View Full Version : Fatal fall from golf cart
spk7951
08-12-2012, 11:49 AM
Villages resident dies after fall from golf cart
By David Breen , Orlando Sentinel
10:56 a.m.
A resident of The Villages has died after a fall from a golf cart.
David H. Tillman, 70, was a passenger in a cart being driven by 65-year-old Charles J. Haines on Saturday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
As Haines drove the cart through a roundabout at about 8:30 p.m., Tillman fell out and struck the curb, FHP said.
Tillman was taken to The Villages Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
The incident happened at Buena Vista Boulevard and El Camino Real, in the Sumter County portion of the sprawling retirement community.
lovesports
08-12-2012, 11:59 AM
Thanks for posting.
Mr Hanky
08-12-2012, 12:06 PM
So sad !
Sunshine Mary
08-12-2012, 12:12 PM
Oh So Sad
asianthree
08-12-2012, 12:37 PM
my thoughts are with the family and the driver and his family as well
rjm1cc
08-12-2012, 12:50 PM
Villages resident dies after fall from golf cart
By David Breen , Orlando Sentinel
10:56 a.m.
A resident of The Villages has died after a fall from a golf cart.
David H. Tillman, 70, was a passenger in a cart being driven by 65-year-old Charles J. Haines on Saturday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
As Haines drove the cart through a roundabout at about 8:30 p.m., Tillman fell out and struck the curb, FHP said.
Tillman was taken to The Villages Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
The incident happened at Buena Vista Boulevard and El Camino Real, in the Sumter County portion of the sprawling retirement community.
A quick turn to avoid a problem can be a problem for a passenger since they are not holding on to the steering wheel. Maybe we should get and use seat belts?
janmcn
08-12-2012, 01:48 PM
Horrible, horrible accident.
Man dies after falling out of golf cart in the Villages - Tampa Bay Times (http://www.tampabay.com/news/man-dies-after-falling-out-of-golf-cart-in-the-villages/1245522)
KittyKat
08-12-2012, 02:06 PM
If they were in the roundabout, I assume they were in a Street Legal cart which has seatbelts. Sad mistake if he wasn't wearing it. I, personally, don't see the need for a Street Legal. :pray:
buggyone
08-12-2012, 04:03 PM
Obviously a Street Legal Cart if he was in the circle. Street Legal Carts have seat belts. He would not have fallen out if he had been wearing the seat belt. Another avoidable incident.
JoeC1947
08-12-2012, 04:08 PM
If they were in the roundabout, I assume they were in a Street Legal cart which has seatbelts. Sad mistake if he wasn't wearing it. I, personally, don't see the need for a Street Legal. :pray:
I wouldn't assume that they were in a street legal cart. As we all know, sometimes people take a wrong turn by mistake. I'm very sorry for both the driver and, the family of the victim.
justjim
08-12-2012, 04:24 PM
Incident not in the Daily Sun. Very sad accident. If the newspaper information is correct, sounds like it was in a Street Legal which has seat belts. Our prayers go out to the families involved in this horrible incident.
eckbro
08-12-2012, 04:42 PM
Why does it matter if the cart was on the street or the cart path? Anyone driving a cart without seat belts is risking their life wether street legal or not. When a skull hits the pavement it doesn't matter. Why in the world do supposedly sensible people drive a golf cart without utilizing seat belts???
PattyCakes
08-12-2012, 04:48 PM
Thoughts and prayers are with the family. What a sad event.
rubicon
08-12-2012, 04:54 PM
Why does it matter if the cart was on the street or the cart path? Anyone driving a cart without seat belts is risking their life wether street legal or not. When a skull hits the pavement it doesn't matter. Why in the world do supposedly sensible people drive a golf cart without utilizing seat belts???
Its not enough to have a three point seatbelt system. All golf cart drivers and passengers should be required to wear helmets. It should also be law that all golfcarts have side doors that lock and are equipped with airbags. The speed limit should be reduced to 15mph. All golfcarts should be resricted to cartpath only except when they need to travel in a diamond lane.
All golfcart drivers should be required to take a driving test and a written test so as to be licensed. They should also be required to have a minumum limit of liability fo $500,000 and must carry an insurance card with them at all times to prove their carts are insured. If a cart driver/owner violates any of these rules then they should be subjected to have their golf cart licenses suspended for a minimum of 6 months (period):boxing2:
starflyte1
08-12-2012, 05:03 PM
I wrote a reply, but had the wrong round-a-bout. Sorry. Thanks, Greg.
JoeC1947
08-12-2012, 05:31 PM
Why does it matter if the cart was on the street or the cart path? Anyone driving a cart without seat belts is risking their life wether street legal or not. When a skull hits the pavement it doesn't matter. Why in the world do supposedly sensible people drive a golf cart without utilizing seat belts???
Good Lord, lets not turn this into a seat belt debate. A man died, show some respect. This thread should be closed and another opened to debate seat belts AGAIN!
thekeithfan
08-12-2012, 05:33 PM
Very sad....To my point in previous "street legal" conversations and discussion. Anyone driving in the street with a street legal cart is taking great unnecessary risk. I see street legal golf carts in the roundabouts and cringe everytime. A golf cart is no match for being hit by a car and why when you have a golf cart only path why would you risk your life in the street. I know many of you 'street legal' fans are going to defend it and go ahead driving in the street is legal and this is America do what you want but more will die!
getdul981
08-12-2012, 05:40 PM
For those not familiar with the round-a-bout at the North end of Morris, I don't know of any other round-a-bout like it in TV. The cart path is seperated from the road, but carts have to cross each entrance and exit. The cart path itself is very dangerous. There are no tunnels and some exits from the cart path are narrow and curving. It is easy to hit a curb in a couple of places.
Agreed that the round about at the north end of Morse is very dangerous, but this incident occured at El Camino and Buena Vista. Not an accepted site for non-stgreet legal carts, if that is what was involved.
starflyte1
08-12-2012, 05:42 PM
Greg, my mistake. Sorry.
Happinow
08-12-2012, 05:51 PM
I see a lot of golf carts take the corners very fast. Perhaps he was taking the corner way too fast?? What ever the reason, it's very sad news and hopefully the accident will make us think about how dangerous golf carts can be if not driven safely. Prayers to the families....
JoeC1947
08-12-2012, 06:05 PM
very sad....to my point in previous "street legal" conversations and discussion. Anyone driving in the street with a street legal cart is taking great unnecessary risk. I see street legal golf carts in the roundabouts and cringe everytime. A golf cart is no match for being hit by a car and why when you have a golf cart only path why would you risk your life in the street. I know many of you 'street legal' fans are going to defend it and go ahead driving in the street is legal and this is america do what you want but more will die!
r.i.p
2BNTV
08-12-2012, 06:21 PM
So sad. my condolencs to family and friends. :pray:
At this point, none of us really know exactly what happened, but we do know, a life was lost.
My condolences are offered to the family of the gentleman who died and to the driver of the cart and his family.
buggyone
08-12-2012, 06:36 PM
Its not enough to have a three point seatbelt system. All golf cart drivers and passengers should be required to wear helmets. It should also be law that all golfcarts have side doors that lock and are equipped with airbags. The speed limit should be reduced to 15mph. All golfcarts should be resricted to cartpath only except when they need to travel in a diamond lane.
All golfcart drivers should be required to take a driving test and a written test so as to be licensed. They should also be required to have a minumum limit of liability fo $500,000 and must carry an insurance card with them at all times to prove their carts are insured. If a cart driver/owner violates any of these rules then they should be subjected to have their golf cart licenses suspended for a minimum of 6 months (period):boxing2:
A street legal cart must have seatbelts; must be insured; and must have a valid license plate.
Does your golf cart have those safety features you recommend and do you always go 15 mph or slower?
These are golf carts and not cars.
OurHappyHome
08-12-2012, 08:32 PM
My heart goes got to the family. I have seat belts even though not street legal. You can't be too careful. Life is too short. Those circles are not even safe for cars.
justjim
08-12-2012, 08:52 PM
Its not enough to have a three point seatbelt system. All golf cart drivers and passengers should be required to wear helmets. It should also be law that all golfcarts have side doors that lock and are equipped with airbags. The speed limit should be reduced to 15mph. All golfcarts should be resricted to cartpath only except when they need to travel in a diamond lane.
All golfcart drivers should be required to take a driving test and a written test so as to be licensed. They should also be required to have a minumum limit of liability fo $500,000 and must carry an insurance card with them at all times to prove their carts are insured. If a cart driver/owner violates any of these rules then they should be subjected to have their golf cart licenses suspended for a minimum of 6 months (period):boxing2: :1rotfl:
:1rotfl: :1rotfl: Very funny Rubicon. But seriously the reason people don't wear a helmet or have seat belts in their golf cart is the same reason Motorcycle riders don't want to wear helmets!
However, I hope my remarks in no way belittles the seriousness of this horrible accident. My prayers go out to both families.
IADCathy
08-12-2012, 09:53 PM
Is it possible to make a wrong turn that would put you into a roundabout? What a frightening thought.
Barefoot
08-12-2012, 11:01 PM
Good Lord, lets not turn this into a seat belt debate. A man died, show some respect. This thread should be closed and another opened to debate seat belts AGAIN!
A man died needlessly in a horrible accident. I wish peace to his friends and family.
Posh 08
08-13-2012, 03:00 AM
Sad, a couple of old pals out for a cart ride and death strikes. Peace to them.
Mikiem
08-13-2012, 05:01 AM
If I'm not mistaken, The cart path follows the round-about right next to car traffic, and carts have to stop to let cars cross the road at the 4 roads it intersects. Very busy section due to being so close to 441
buggyone
08-13-2012, 06:40 AM
If I'm not mistaken, The cart path follows the round-about right next to car traffic, and carts have to stop to let cars cross the road at the 4 roads it intersects. Very busy section due to being so close to 441
Mike, I believe you have the wrong roundabout in mind. You are talking of the one at Morse & Camino Real. The accident took place at the roundabout at Buena Vista & Camino Real (by Savannah Center & Glenview CC).
robertj1954
08-13-2012, 06:48 AM
My condolences to his family and special prayers to the family and the driver of the cart. A very unfortunate accident.
senior citizen
08-13-2012, 06:54 AM
...
Regor
08-13-2012, 07:33 AM
A lot of carts have a 3rd (fancy) party seat installed. Most of those seats offer arm rests that swing up. Without that armrest in the down position, it is very easy for the passenger to fall out of the cart. I almost did but the driver grabbed my leg to help me regain my seat position and this happened at slow speed on the golf course. A friend of mine had his wife fall out of their cart also on the golf course, she broke here leg in the fall. Both of these incidents were caused by the arm rest being in the up position.
alemorkam
08-13-2012, 08:13 AM
FHP: Villages man killed in fall from golf cart | www.wftv.com (http://www.wftv.com/news/news/troopers-man-70-dies-after-falling-golf-cart/nQ8CT/)
NJblue
08-13-2012, 08:18 AM
Another death that could have been avoided by use of seat belts. If this truly happened in a roundabout and if the cart was legally in the roundabout, that means that it was street legal and, by law, was equipped with belts ... that sadly went unused.
Joaniesmom
08-13-2012, 08:59 AM
---
In reading the article, the poor man aged five years in the course of one paragraph?
No, the driver was 65, his 70 year old passenger was ejected and killed.
JohnN
08-13-2012, 09:35 AM
tragic, foolish,
I'm not brave enough to be rolling a golf cart through a roundabout
.... Anyone driving in the street with a street legal cart is taking great unnecessary risk. I see street legal golf carts in the roundabouts and cringe everytime....
Do you cringe every time you encounter one of these signs when you are in your cart.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/members/edvinmass-10325/albums/roundabouts/3875-merge.jpg
The majority of TV residents don’t have seat belts in their standard carts because they are not required by the manufacturers and the county Sheriff’s Department is openly advising residents against their use in carts.
I can only hope that the unnecessary loss of another TV resident or visitor due to ejection from a golf cart will help the Property Owners Association build their case against this practice. As discussed in this thread (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/poa-questions-golf-cart-seat-belt-issue-57032/).
Keep in mind that neither I nor the POA are advocating a seatbelt law, we just want to get our county officials to stop advising against their use based on the mounting evidence from up to date traffic and hospital records indicating the need for them in this community with 40,000 carts primarily used for short range transportation.
paulandjean
08-13-2012, 10:53 AM
Do you cringe every time you encounter one of these signs when you are in your cart.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/members/edvinmass-10325/albums/roundabouts/3875-merge.jpg
No,Not at all........
DandyGirl
08-13-2012, 11:00 AM
No, seat belts are not required in all carts but I feel safer having them and always use mine except on the golf course. BTW, it was in the paper today. Peace be with the families involved.
njbchbum
08-13-2012, 11:10 AM
significant discussion on same accident here, i believe:
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/fatal-fall-golf-cart-58441/
No,Not at all........
I was addressing thekeithfan’s post. Why not let him/her answer.
zcaveman
08-13-2012, 11:35 AM
Do you cringe every time you encounter one of these signs when you are in your cart.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/members/edvinmass-10325/albums/roundabouts/3875-merge.jpg
Not me. I think it is the safest way to do the stop signs and traffic light.
Not me. I think it is the safest way to do the stop signs and traffic light.
What does that have to do with my asking thekeithfan why he/she feels LSVs are dangerous because they are mingling with regular vehicles when the facts as evidenced by the photo show that regular carts are forced to do this all over The Villages.
I happen to agree with you about it being the safer method but it is irrelevant with regard to the question I posed.
rubicon
08-13-2012, 12:15 PM
:1rotfl:
:1rotfl: :1rotfl: Very funny Rubicon. But seriously the reason people don't wear a helmet or have seat belts in their golf cart is the same reason Motorcycle riders don't want to wear helmets!
However, I hope my remarks in no way belittles the seriousness of this horrible accident. My prayers go out to both families.
My sympathies do also and it angered me when this member start posting about seat belts when its about a moment of rememberance and also because no one seemed o know exactly what happened.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the victim (a passenger) died after falling from a cart and striking his head on a curb. It’s an undeniable fact that had he been wearing even a two point functioning seat belt, he couldn’t have fallen from the cart. So this tragic accident could have been avoided and that members 'seat belt' post was certainly appropriate.
But imho, venting one’s anger with sarcasm was neither humorous nor appropriate.
Bogie Shooter
08-13-2012, 02:00 PM
Good Lord, lets not turn this into a seat belt debate. A man died, show some respect. This thread should be closed and another opened to debate seat belts AGAIN!
I guess no one read this post....................................
rustynail
08-13-2012, 02:35 PM
Another death that could have been avoided by use of seat belts. If this truly happened in a roundabout and if the cart was legally in the roundabout, that means that it was street legal and, by law, was equipped with belts ... that sadly went unused.
Was it street legalor not?
thekeithfan
08-13-2012, 03:04 PM
Do you cringe every time you encounter one of these signs when you are in your cart.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/members/edvinmass-10325/albums/roundabouts/3875-merge.jpg
Absolutely and in a roundabout or driving down el camino real I cringe when I see these fools in their "street Legal" carts among ... well my diesel truck that weighs 6,000 pounds!
thekeithfan
08-13-2012, 03:06 PM
What does that have to do with my asking thekeithfan why he/she feels LSVs are dangerous because they are mingling with regular vehicles when the facts as evidenced by the photo show that regular carts are forced to do this all over The Villages.
I happen to agree with you about it being the safer method but it is irrelevant with regard to the question I posed.
What are LSV's?
duffysmom
08-13-2012, 03:18 PM
I'm sad that someone lost their life while out on a cart ride. Unfortunately it's not unusual, the POA newspaper wrote that 10 people have died in cart accidents in the last 5 years. They feel that it has been under reported and ask that if you have an accident or know of one to report it to the POA. They are publishing all cart accidents that they know of.
I guess no one read this post....................................
This is not a debate about seat belts in golf carts because there is no debate in this instance. There is no doubt in this instance that the man would be alive today if he was wearing a seatbelt. The fact that some of you find this to be an inconvenient truth should not be a reason to shut this thread down.
We are discussing the manner and circumstances of this man’s death, which was both unfortunate and avoidable. If the Admin/Moderators feel this is going off topic, they’ll let us know.
Absolutely and in a roundabout or driving down el camino real I cringe when I see these fools in their "street Legal" carts among ... well my diesel truck that weighs 6,000 pounds!
And what kind of disparaging names do you have for the folks driving standard golf carts that merge in front of your diesel truck on the other roads as depicted in the photo?
FMF Doc
08-13-2012, 04:29 PM
Idiots would be one, Stupid Idiots I guess I call them when they so that. Their driving kinda reminds me of driving in Massachusetts
I would think they would only be stupid or idiots if they knew it was you and merged in fromt of you with that attitude. Driving a larger than normal vehicle don't you feel a responsibility to look out for the other guy?
What about motorcycles and scooters, are they idiots too?
Why a 6,000 lb. deisel truck? Just curious.
Villages PL
08-13-2012, 04:41 PM
Centrifugal force: as a body moves around a circular path it tends to be propelled outward. There's a grab bar on the right but if you're sitting up against it, it won't be of much help because you can tumble over it. Centrifugal force increases as the speed of the vehicle (cart) increases. So, if you're going too fast and turn to the left, the passenger goes flying out.
It might help it there would be something for the passenger's left hand to hold onto.
Moderator
08-13-2012, 05:03 PM
There were 2 separate threads on this accident. They have been merged into one thread with the posts appearing chronologically.
JoeC1947
08-13-2012, 05:27 PM
There were 2 separate threads on this accident. They have been merged into one thread with the posts appearing chronologically.
Both threads drifted viciously off topic.
villages07
08-13-2012, 06:26 PM
Sympathies to the family of the deceased as well as the driver who, no doubt, must be distraught over this terrible accident.
In a community with 80,000 residents and 50,000 golf carts, accidents will happen. Many could be preventable or avoidable. The facts for this accident are not fully known (street legal or not, seat belts in use, etc) so much of what is written here is speculation.
RIP Mr Tillman
There were 2 separate threads on this accident. They have been merged into one thread with the posts appearing chronologically.
Thanks
Bill-n-Brillo
08-13-2012, 08:48 PM
What are LSV's?
Low Speed Vehicles.....aka Street Legal Carts.
Bill :)
twinklesweep
08-13-2012, 10:02 PM
I still cannot understand that golf carts are sold without seat belts--and I'm not talking about street legal carts which, as said by another poster on this thread, make no sense to me. I tried (that is, resulting in a blank look) to impress on a young visitor the need to use seat belts in a golf cart, and sure enough, a short while later we passed a golf cart accident on Morse Blvd. North where the driver of the cart was on the ground with his cart on top of him! Good sense calls for installing seat belts, which is relatively inexpensive to do, especially in light of the news of these accidents!
thekeithfan
08-14-2012, 06:47 AM
I would think they would only be stupid or idiots if they knew it was you and merged in fromt of you with that attitude. Driving a larger than normal vehicle don't you feel a responsibility to look out for the other guy?
What about motorcycles and scooters, are they idiots too?
Why a 6,000 lb. deisel truck? Just curious.
I don't know where you see an attitude... I'm saying anyone cutting me off in a 6000 pound diesel truck in a golf cart is an idiot. Why diesel I tow a 17,000 pound 5th wheel travel trailer.
JoeC1947
08-14-2012, 07:33 AM
I don't know where you see an attitude... I'm saying anyone cutting me off in a 6000 pound diesel truck in a golf cart is an idiot. Why diesel I tow a 17,000 pound 5th wheel travel trailer.
Wow, that's a nice trailer. I always thought of getting one but would prefer a Class A I think. Did you ever own a Class A? Which do you like better?
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