A local resident was seriously injured in a recent golf cart accident in which his vehicle overturned in the Village of Glenbrook.
The 80-year-old Villager was airlifted to Ocala Regional Medical Center following the crash, which occurred near the intersection of Oak Forest Drive and Melville Loop. A police report made public days later detailed how the accident happened.
The man was trailing another golf cart that slowed to turn onto a private driveway, according to the report. The Villager in the rear golf cart attempted to pass the turning vehicle, but clipped the lead vehicle’s front bumper in the process.
“The Villager attempted to overcorrect, but fishtailed and his golf overturned, landing on the passenger side,” Villages-News reports. “The Villager was ejected from the golf cart.”
The driver of the lead golf cart and a passenger were not injured in the accident. The other drivers’ injuries were not clear.
Golf Cart Safety Risks
These kinds of accidents are all too common in The Villages, where golf carts are frequently used for local travel. While these vehicles are preferred by many local residents, they offer little physical protection to drivers and passengers and are prone to rollovers when collisions happen.
More than 18,000 injuries from golf cart crashes are reported across the country every year. In Sumter County alone, an average of nine people are killed in these crashes annually.
Just three days after the Glenbrook accident, two people were killed in a nearby golf cart crash. Their golf cart overturned after colliding with a car at the intersection of County Road 109 and U.S. 27, according to news reports.
Oak Forest Drive has also seen its share of golf cart crashes. In 2019, an 83-year-old bicycle rider was struck by a golf cart near the entrance to the Village of Polo Ridge. The man reportedly was thrown from his bicycle in the collision.
Ejection is a particular risk for people riding in golf carts when accidents happen. More than a quarter (27%) of golf cart crashes in The Villages that cause death or injury involve a person being ejected, according to a 2023 study by the Taylor & Francis Group.
These situations are largely preventable with the use of seatbelts. Although many golf carts do not come equipped with the safety devices, they can easily be upgraded to add seat belts.
Talk With a Villages Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart, car, truck, motorcycle or other accident, it is vital to seek the advice of an experienced lawyer. Villages injury attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people and families across the community for more than two decades.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages injury attorney.
