A 75-year-old Maine man died days after a horrific golf cart accident on Morse Boulevard in The Villages.
Initial reports of the accident indicated that the man was hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury following the crash with a sport utility vehicle on Morse Boulevard at Martinez Drive. The man died about a week later, according to Villages-News.
The golf cart driver was traveling southbound on Morse Boulevard when he attempted to make a left turn onto Martinez Drive. He was ejected from the golf cart when it collided with a Cadillac XT5 traveling northbound on Morse Boulevard, police said in an accident report.
Florida Highway Patrol concluded that the golf cart driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The man - a Maine resident and husband, father and grandfather - later died at Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he had been airlifted for treatment.
The tragic accident sparked renewed calls for action to address safety issues at Morse Boulevard, where cars and golf carts have proved to be a deadly mix for more than a decade. Local officials are again punting on a decision about what to do, despite a growing list of serious accidents.
Sumter County commissioners recently said they are “done” trying to address the issue, according to Villages-News. That came two weeks after The Villages Amenity Authority Committee declined to act on a $2.4-million plan to improve golf cart safety.
Golf Cart Ejections Are Often Fatal
People in golf carts are at a much higher risk of injury and death than those in other vehicles when accidents happen. That is at least partly because of the threat of rollovers and ejections.
More than 130 golf cart accidents happen in The Villages every year, according to a 2023 study by the Taylor & Francis Group. More than a quarter (27%) of crashes that cause death or injury involve a person being ejected from a golf cart, the study found.
Ejection is the “most preventable” cause of golf cart injuries, according to the group, which said seat belts are the logical way to prevent ejections.
Many golf carts do not come equipped with seatbelts. That is because they are designed to accommodate golfers frequently getting in and out of their vehicles. For golf carters who use the vehicles outside of the links, seat belts are a vital safety protection that can be easily added at minimal charge.
How a Villages Golf Cart Accident Attorney Can Help
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 golf cart accident 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 golf cart accident attorney.
