A Fourth of July golf cart crash in the Villages sent one person to the hospital and another to jail.
A 63-year-old Villager rammed his golf cart into hedges at Pinellas Place and Buena Vista Boulevard, Villages-News reports. A passenger suffered unspecified injuries in the crash, which reportedly occurred around 9 pm.
Cops who arrived on the scene said the driver’s clothes were “very disheveled and bloody.” The man was sweating, according to a police report, and had “urine or fecal matter on the backside of his shorts.”
He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after struggling through field sobriety tests, according to the police report. The man provided breath samples showing his blood alcohol content was as high as 0.155%. That is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08% under Florida law.
The driver was released from Sumter County Detention Center after posting a $1,000 bond.
The injured passenger was transported to the University of Florida Health-Leesburg Hospital.
DUI Golf Cart Accidents in The Villages
Getting behind the wheel of a golf cart or any other vehicle while intoxicated is a reckless move that can have life-changing consequences. It is also far too common in The Villages and across Florida.
In the same week as the Fourth of July crash, one man was criminally sentenced for driving a golf cart while under the influence at Brownwood and another was arrested on a drunk driving charge after overturning his golf cart at the gate at the entrance to the Village of Belle Aire.
The same week, a third man who lost his driver’s license as part of a DUI conviction was sent behind bars after being caught driving a golf cart. The arresting officers said they noticed an “overwhelming aroma of alcohol emitting” from the man.
Criminal prosecution is not the only risk of drinking and golf carting.
A golf cart driver suffered traumatic injuries in a June 6 accident with a vehicle near the postal station in the Village of Alhambra, according to Villages-News. The crash caused the golf cart to roll over, a common and often devastating type of accident.
There is some good news: Anyone who is injured in a golf cart accident caused by a drunk driver has the right to seek compensation from those responsible. That is often the driver - and his or her insurer - but may also include others.
Speak With a Villages Golf Cart Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart or other crash, it is vital to seek the advice of an experienced injury attorney. Villages golf cart accident lawyer 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.
