HERE A COPY OF MY STATEMENT......I WAS JUST INSIDE THE TUNNEL ON SAT. SUNDAY PAPER WAS NOT 100% CORRECT. THIS WAS MY VIEW FROM JUST INSIDE THE TUNNEL.
I wittiness an accident at the gold cart tunnel opening over 466A across from Colony Recreation center. I was stopped about to exit the tunnel when I heard a loud crash and then saw an SUV, Gray I believe, pushing a broken up golf cart, down the golf cart trail that I was about to enter, approximately 20 to 30 feet in front of me. The SUV continued on until it hit some small trees and shrubbery at the edge of the golf cart trail, about 40 to 50 feet in front of me. As I observed the golf cart directly in front of me, approximately 20 to 30 feet, and the golf cart at that time had one person inside the golf cart, who was thrown out as the Golf Cart as it turned over, came apart and was almost on top of the person. As I started to cross the trail to render aid I noticed another person lying in the center of the Golf Cart trail approximately 100 feet up the hill from me. I was unsure who to run to first; another man came running up behind me and I told him to call 911 (I did not have a cell phone), and go up the hill to check on that person as I went to the guy asking for help under the debris……also the 2 people in the SUV were crying and shouting for assistance. A moment or two late another man can over to assist and he went to the person under the debris and tried to pull the golf cart off the person under the debris. I checked the two people in the SUV and they said they were ok but the woman told me “he just blacked out” referring to the man driving the SUV…..I ask if they we hurt in any way and/or were bleeding…She said no; the man was awake but not talking, he looked dazed. About that time I went to the other guy who was trying to pull the Golf cart of the person laying under the cart and debris……before I could reach him the cart fell back over trapping his foot under the tire of the cart…..he ask for help and I tried my best to raise the cart of his foot but could not lift it……by then other golfers from the course we coming to assist. They lifter the cart of the man’s foot and I went to the person under the roof of the Golf cart; some other person helped me remove the debris from atop the person. The man was moaning and responsive and bleeding from the head and ear on his right side. He said he could not breath very well and wanted up…..I suggested he lie still and wait for the Paramedics (I could already here the siren at this time), the man continued to struggle a bit an others help try to persuade him to lie still. About a few moments later the Paramedics were there and took charge of the incident. I briefly spoke with a Sumter county deputy and offered a statement, he said for everyone to back away and he had lots to do …..I understood and departed the area. After arriving home I phoned the police and reported my name and phone number just encase they needed my statement.
I did not see the SUV initially enter the Golf Cart trail but could not believe this vehicle was flying down the golf cart trail……..it must have been 50 to 75 feet from 466A. Also, I never saw the other person who was apparently in the golf cart with the man fall out.
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