Golf cart crash off bridge

[LvmyPug2]

Just returned from the craft show in SS and as we approached the bridge by the church we saw a big back up of carts. As we passed over the bridge we saw a cart had gone off the bridge and was about 6 ft below, laying on it's side in the ditch. Sure hope no one was hurt. Weird thing is as we passed over the bridge on our way over to SS from LSL DH and I had just commented that we wished they had made the bridge a few inches wider because if you got too close to the edge and went over it would be a heck of a drop.

[buggyone]

Which bridge was this? Was it the big bridge crossing Lake Sumter (Morse Blvd) or the smaller bridge (boardwalk) just as you enter through the gate at Morse & 466?

[deano_hoosier]

It was the "board" bridge and the wreck took place at the entrance of the bridge after coming across the entrance to the church. Assuming the cart had stopped before crossing the entrance to the church parking lot?? it could not have been going very fast. It never really made it on the bridge with all 4 wheels and it was a yellow cart laying pretty much on the top side so the undercarriage was most of what you could see. Quite a mess.

[graciegirl]

It was the "board" bridge and the wreck took place at the entrance of the bridge after coming across the entrance to the church. Assuming the cart had stopped before crossing the entrance to the church parking lot?? it could not have been going very fast. It never really made it on the bridge with all 4 wheels and it was a yellow cart laying pretty much on the top side so the undercarriage was most of what you could see. Quite a mess.


There isn't a church on the side that I think of at the smaller bridge(south side of 466). I am confused. We heard a million sirens as we were playing Hawks Bay this morning. I wonder if that was the disaster....

Hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.

[red tail]

There isn't a church on the side that I think of at the smaller bridge(south side of 466). I am confused. We heard a million sirens as we were playing Hawks Bay this morning. I wonder if that was the disaster....

Hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.

its on north side of 466 after coming thru the tunnel

[getdul981]

They had just gotten the cart up, but were still detouring carts through the gates and back onto the cart path around 230 PM.

[buggyone]

The church is Hope Lutheran at the corner of Morse and 466. There is a board bridge going across a protected area of marsh just after the entrance to the church parking lot as the golf cart trail goes onto Morse through the entrance gate.

I don't see how a golf cart missed the bridge and ended up below it. It is wide enough for two carts easily with some room to spare. Some of these Snowbirds (especially from New York) need to learn how to stay in their lanes.

[The Village Girl]

Some of these Snowbirds (especially from New York) need to learn how to stay in their lanes.

Sure, because "they" drive a cart different then "us"?

I heard the person driving the cart had a heart attack and lost control. No wait, a coyote jumped in front of the cart and they swerved. They were from California. No, I think they are from Michigan, Oh, it doesn't matter because they have lived here for 5 years!

buggyone Just where do you get these ideas?

[Ohiogirl]

I was behind a cart once that blew thru the stop sign on the wooden bridge - never even slowed down - cars going into the church p/l have the right of way.

But - it is a narrow bridge with curves and sometimes not everyone stays in their lane. I have sometimes felt like I needed to swerve to avoid someone coming toward me who is left of center.

[hedoman]

Sure, because "they" drive a cart different then "us"?

I heard the person driving the cart had a heart attack and lost control. No wait, a coyote jumped in front of the cart and they swerved. They were from California. No, I think they are from Michigan, Oh, it doesn't matter because they have lived here for 5 years!

buggyone Just where do you get these ideas?

You ARE kiding right? These folks may be seriously injured......c'mon
:cus::cus::cus::cus::cus:

[GaDawg]

crews were on site. That cart on it's side right at the entrance to the bridge just had me wondering how it could have happened. We have been here driving around in our cart for several months now and take extra precaution at that bridge, as well as the very narrow path across the bridges at Lake Sumter. Hope the folks who were in the cart were not severely injured and are safe at home this evening.

[paulandjean]

I am with you "Hedoman" Someone may have been hurt, and she is telling jokes,talk about being insensitive.

[The Village Girl]

Some of these Snowbirds (especially from New York) need to learn how to stay in their lanes.

You ARE kiding right? These folks may be seriously injured......c'mon
:cus::cus::cus::cus::cus:


My point exactly! Someone is most likely hurt and comments are made about snowbirds and New York drivers? No! I'm NOT kidding! the comment was completely heartless and bigoted! I don't joke about that!
:cus:

[The Village Girl]

I am with you "Hedoman" Someone may have been hurt, and she is telling jokes,talk about being insensitive.

Oh... and sweetie... What village do you live in?

[Pturner]

This makes me sad. If anyone learns if the driver (and passenger, if any) are doing ok, please post it and let us know.

[gatherer47]

Why is it always a "snowbird" who is blamed for anything that goes wrong here in the Villages? What a crock! So year round residents can do no wrong and are perfect in all they do? What makes a year round resident such an expert on all things? Please tell me.

[rletz]

Sorry to hear that this happened. But coming thru there at night is a nightmare...wish the villages would put some lighting in this area. I'm surprised that this hasn't happened before...especally at night.

[Jim 9922]

Why is it always a "snowbird" who is blamed for anything that goes wrong here in the Villages? What a crock! So year round residents can do no wrong and are perfect in all they do? What makes a year round resident such an expert on all things? Please tell me.

They must be self anointed, all-knowing wizards and The Force is with them at all times!
:laugh:

[Barefoot]

Why is it always a "snowbird" who is blamed for anything that goes wrong here in the Villages? What a crock! So year round residents can do no wrong and are perfect in all they do? What makes a year round resident such an expert on all things? Please tell me.

I feel deeply sorry for those involved in the accident. I hope that everyone who was in the accident, or who witnessed the accident, are home and well and sleeping soundly in their own beds.

As OhioGirl said, that can be a difficult bridge to navigate if the cart coming toward you is taking up more than one lane. Also, some people drive with their knees hanging out of the cart.

Yes, Frogs may be more familiar with cart paths than Snowbirds. But let's not automatically assume that all accidents are caused by Snowbirds.

[pauld315]

I don't see how a golf cart missed the bridge and ended up below it. It is wide enough for two carts easily with some room to spare. Some of these Snowbirds (especially from New York) need to learn how to stay in their lanes.

I sure hope nobody was seriously injured

[EdV]

If the latest aerial photos in Google Earth are up to date, that bridge and the path around it are still only 12 feet wide. So the question that begs to be answered is ‘why wasn’t it widened to 16 feet like the other paths during the rebuild last year’.

[getdul981]

If the latest aerial photos in Google Earth are up to date, that bridge and the path around it are still only 12 feet wide. So the question that begs to be answered is ‘why wasn’t it widened to 16 feet like the other paths during the rebuild last year’.

$$$

[elevatorman]

I understand there is still $$$$ left from the lawsuit that got the cart paths widened. Maybe a suggestion to the AAC could get the bridge widened.

[skip0358]

:cus:Someone reports there was an accident. The first and only concern is are they alright. Next should be is there anyway to prevent this from happening in the future. Why the hell would we start placing blame on snow birds or frogs or snow flakes. I'm a frog and there are plenty of accidents when it's less crowed, even a few fatal. So stop the crap. There was an accident and I hope nobody is seroiusly hurt that's the bottom line. Why not start a new petition thread about widening the bridge and the one the goes over Lake Sumter and we'll submit to the correct agency to see if it's possible. Oh yea and why not SLOW down going over both bridges like we're supposed to.!:spoken:

[jebartle]

:cus:Someone reports there was an accident. The first and only concern is are they alright. Next should be is there anyway to prevent this from happening in the future. Why the hell would we start placing blame on snow birds or frogs or snow flakes. I'm a frog and there are plenty of accidents when it's less crowed, even a few fatal. So stop the crap. There was an accident and I hope nobody is seroiusly hurt that's the bottom line. Why not start a new petition thread about widening the bridge and the one the goes over Lake Sumter and we'll submit to the correct agency to see if it's possible. Oh yea and why not SLOW down going over both bridges like we're supposed to.!:spoken:



As the song goes, Slow down, we move too fast, got to let the morning last!

[jchase]

I wonder how many dents the Village Girl has in her car/Cart! I'm from NY and probally backed up more miles then you gone forward!

[EdV]

.... Why not start a new petition thread about widening the bridge and the one the goes over Lake Sumter and we'll submit to the correct agency to see if it's possible.

Excellent suggestion Skip. Are you going to head up this effort?

[angiefox10]

I wonder how many dents the Village Girl has in her car/Cart! I'm from NY and probally backed up more miles then you gone forward!

What am I missing? The Village Girl was supporting New York drivers and Snowbirds and you went after her? :ohdear:

[Barefoot]

Why not start a new petition thread about widening the bridge and the one the goes over Lake Sumter and we'll submit to the correct agency to see if it's possible. Oh yea and why not SLOW down going over both bridges like we're supposed to.!:spoken:

Excellent suggestion Skip. Are you going to head up this effort?

Good for you, Skip, suggesting positive action. :thumbup:

[skip0358]

If I knew how to do it on here I would. I've seen them just don't know how to do it. I'd be happy to push it through the right channels though. I like projects!

[Barefoot]

If I knew how to do it on here I would. I've seen them just don't know how to do it. I'd be happy to push it through the right channels though. I like projects!

Sounds like we need Tech help! MEMason seems to know how to get things done. Also our Tal has done a lot of surveys.

[Mikeod]

Wouldn't a submission to the AAC do the trick?:shrug:

[skip0358]

Wouldn't a submission to the AAC do the trick?:shrug:

Yes but if we had a petition with mants residents names it would carry more weight.

[memason]

I would recommend a call or email to Janet Tutt, as a starting point. If she isn't the one to take this on, she could certainly point us in the right direction.

Not sure a survey on TOTV would do the trick. If a petition drive were to be attempted, I believe it would need to include name and address to be valid.

Just my thoughts....

[KatzPajamas]

This makes me sad. If anyone learns if the driver (and passenger, if any) are doing ok, please post it and let us know.

Pturner~ I love your quote about the truth of quotes on the internet (A Lincoln) I would have bet that was said by A Gore!;)

[janmcn]

Does anybody know what The Daily Sun reported about this accident?

[graciegirl]

Now I know which one it is and have gone over it many times. We went over it again today. You could be careless and get a wheel over the edge and go over. I think it needs to be filled in underneath. They could put a big pipe in there and cover it with dirt if it is a conduit for run off. Then it needs to be paved as a path, not a bridge. It wouldn't be hard to correct.

[graciegirl]

Does anybody know what The Daily Sun reported about this accident?

We all know they will report it a couple of days later.

[rubicon]

Wouldn't a submission to the AAC do the trick?:shrug:

The cart paths on the north side were widened by residents funds which I believed was wrong. It was wrong because the cart paths were designed incorrectly. The Developer is the general contractor/manager and should have picked up the costs not residents. Now we have a bridge with the same flaw and again we are going to use residents money. Same old same old

[graciegirl]

The cart paths on the north side were widened by residents funds which I believed was wrong. It was wrong because the cart paths were designed incorrectly. The Developer is the general contractor/manager and should have picked up the costs not residents. Now we have a bridge with the same flaw and again we are going to use residents money. Same old same old

People got hurt. It can't be a HUGE expense to fill it in. It is a relatively short span. No big deal for a construction company the size of theirs.

They, the powers that be surely already know about this accident and that someone fell off that span. Look for it to be remedied.

[Mikeod]

The cart paths on the north side were widened by residents funds which I believed was wrong. It was wrong because the cart paths were designed incorrectly. The Developer is the general contractor/manager and should have picked up the costs not residents. Now we have a bridge with the same flaw and again we are going to use residents money. Same old same old
I thought the funds used were from the original lawsuit against the developer. He has/is paying off the agreed settlement over a few years. In a way, I guess it is the residents' money, but it is being provided by the developer. Am I wrong?

I agree that design of that bridge is less than ideal. I don't know if the environmentally sensitive area restricted the width they could build, but it sure could use another foot or so. Also, the material of the bridge concerns me in wet weather. I don't know if it does become slippery, but it looks like it could. However, this is the first accident I have heard on that bridge in 5+ years here, so maybe it's not as dangerous as it looks.

[Barefoot]

Let's not forget the annual Residents Survey by the Developer requesting our input and satisfaction levels. If the bridge problem hasn't been remedied by Survey time, there is an area for write-in comments!

[NotGolfer]

I'm going to compare this issue of "fixing" to back home, or up north. Whenever a side-walk needs fixing the cost goes to the home-owner that the sidewalk passes in front of. BUT here with the widening issues etc.--the CDC has a budget for such things and not the developer, from what I understand.

It's totally agreed that there are some paths that could use widening. The Morse St. bridge, for sure over Lake Sumter is one. I wonder how many accidents happen there with carts??!!

[buggyone]

The Morse Blvd Bridge golf cart trail over the lake only has two waysof being more wide - and that is to narrow the car lanes.

I suppose you could lose the sidewalk completely but then pedestrians would be in the golf cart lanes. That certainly is not ideal.

The golf cart lanes are plenty wide right now. Pay attention to your driving, slow down to about half throttle (for those who do not have a speedometer), and you will be just fine.

[graciegirl]

The Morse Blvd Bridge golf cart trail over the lake only has two waysof being more wide - and that is to narrow the car lanes.

I suppose you could lose the sidewalk completely but then pedestrians would be in the golf cart lanes. That certainly is not ideal.

The golf cart lanes are plenty wide right now. Pay attention to your driving, slow down to about half throttle (for those who do not have a speedometer), and you will be just fine.

I have to agree. I am using it all of the time since we moved up to 466. Your advice is excellent. I think people are pretty careful when they drive carts on that bridge.

[Hancle704]

Folloing is an e-mail sent to the Daily Sun EDitor on Novemeber 22, 2011. To date no response or mention in the newspaper.


Dear Editor



As it appears the number of accidents in The Villages involving golf carts has been increasing as the population grows, may I suggest that you do in investigative report on this matter? I have noticed lately that some accidents never get reported in the Daily Sun. Have we become complacent or is this matter no longer newsworthy?



I believe that your reporters should be able to obtain enough factual data from local law enforcement to enable The Daily Sun to run one or more articles on this subject. I would suggest a look back over the last 12 months to allow you to present information on the increasing number of accidents, and if there were injuries involving ambulance transport or, Medevac to a Trauma Facility. If you report on this data and also show the locations where most accidents have occurred, you would do all the residents a great service and hopefully enlighten them to be more cautious when driving their carts on public roads and their autos where they share the road with golf carts.



I look forward to your reply or reading about it in The Daily Sun.

[RichieLion]

Everyone needs to be careful for sure. We're in a retirement community and we have some people driving carts that probably couldn't pass a driver's test. A couple of months ago I saw a man coming towards me in his cart who barely missed a strolling couple who jumped out of his way. When he got to me it looked like he was in a daze and not really focused, with his mouth hanging open. I looked at him a bit shocked, and then he was gone. The couple looked a bit shocked also. I hope he never gets his muffler fixed.

[rhood]

What lawsuit was that?

I understand there is still $$$$ left from the lawsuit that got the cart paths widened. Maybe a suggestion to the AAC could get the bridge widened.

[graciegirl]

What lawsuit was that?

Please, when this lawsuit is explained, don't leave out the part that the folks who sued were lawyers living here and they got millions of dollars personally when it was settled, as I understand it.

And we already know which posters will explain the lawsuit. There are a few who HATE the Morses and we know what their screen names are, but they have NEVER given us a clue as to their real identity. And expect them to begin by...well, there are cheerleaders here that say that everything is rosy but..................

AND...I, me Grace G.do NOT know the Morses, work for the Morses, or have a tiny thing to gain. I just love it here and the Morse bashing makes me furious. The Morses aren't perfect, but it seems to me that they try very hard to make things right for us.

I will go bump a few old threads for you.

[paulandjean]

Is there anything in todays paper about the cart accident.Lots of people saw the cart turned on its side, Did anyone see the people from the cart?.

[bluedog103]

There is a white cross at the bridge where the cart went over the side. Anyone know the details? I knew it was bad but didn't know it was that bad. We went past the scene shortly after the accident. Community Watch was there directing traffic but there was no other emergency equipment there yet.

[bluedog103]

bump

[Bosoxfan]

I was wondering about the cross also.I drive by there every night and to see that cross makes me wonder if there was a fatality.I hope & pray there wasn't!

[Barefoot]

I was looking on Craig's List for a golf cart accessory. I was concentrating on The Villages area. I saw an ad for an accessory saying "never used, belonged to a Villages resident killed in a golf cart accident". It was prior to this accident. But it sure was a sobering reminder.