[jblum315]

Probably blinded by swirling snow LOL

[Talk Host]

I was in the news business for 45 year. Why wouldn't a community newspaper print a story that the public would clearly be curious about?

I also have another question. Having not seen this accident scene, I'm guessing it was one of the unmanned buildings, Yes? If it had been one of the manned buildings, would the gate keeper have been wiped out too?

[graciegirl]

I am sure the gatekeeper would have been harmed. Thank goodness I THINK it was in the middle of the circle.

[billethkid]

does not enhance the image of TV "lifestyle" nor does it aid in the marketing and sale of properties!
Anybody who thinks the local paper is not controlled is naive.

btk

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I was in the news business for 45 year. Why wouldn't a community newspaper print a story that the public would clearly be curious about?

I also have another question. Having not seen this accident scene, I'm guessing it was one of the unmanned buildings, Yes? If it had been one of the manned buildings, would the gate keeper have been wiped out too?

The gatekeeper surely would have been killed.

[Golf-Tinker]

As I understand it, the destroyed building was located in the center of the roundabout. Many roundabouts have structures within them. No gatekeeper would be present. I suspect the driver was just following the rule: the shortest distance between two point is ....

[Pturner]

I was in news business too, and later marketing. I agree this hurts the credibility of both TV marketing and the Daily Sun.

Curious, I searched the archives of The Villages Daily Sun online. Using several keywords ("accident," "car," "cart," "auto" "wreck," "mishap") I found no previous articles on the subject. Has the Daily Sun printed articles in the past about car or golf cart accidents?

[rshoffer]

The level of property destruction and the distance traveled AFTER smashing through the gate barrier led me to assume this was a high speed chase. That was my suspicion and not fact. I found it odd when I asked the gate attendent what happened and he said, "I don't know anything"

[downeaster]

I drove by the site this AM. As previously stated, it is a concrete block building in the middle of the roundabout. I have no idea why it is there.

I expected to see the vehicle had passed through two opposing walls but it passed through two adjoining walls. In other words it went through at a 45 degree angle.

The Daily Sun has been pretty good about reporting accidents lately. I don't understand why this one was not reported. It was pretty spectacular. Maybe they will catch up tomorrow. It would be helpful to know the cause. We can all learn from others' mistakes.
It would be nice if saratogaman could upload those pics. There is a procedure for that but it is beyond my expertise.

[DougR]

When we went through our Lifestyle Preview Program in December, our Villages agent said there are security cameras located at some of the gates. I wonder now if this is infact true?
I also wonder if there are any cameras in the areas where this vehicle traveled - either before the crash or after fleeing the scene???
From the amount of property damage described, I question whether Law Enforcement sent out a Traffic Crash Investigator?

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by DougR

When we went through our Lifestyle Preview Program in December, our Villages agent said there are security cameras located at some of the gates. I wonder now if this is infact true?

Oh, it' true allright. Earlier this year, a community watch guy stepped way out of line and got in my face over nothing at the Chatham gate. I called the community watch office, and they viewed the whole episode on their security camera. The guy was in deep sh##. Thank You security camera.

JLK

[GatbTester]

I cannot believe someone is shocked that the "Stepford" Gate Keepers would not know what happened at the gate or pump house.......after all when one is instructed to wave their hand...and repeat "Welcome to the Villages, have a nice day" a few hundred times a day.......it begins to look mechanical, sound mechanical, and appear mechanical. Yes?

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by GatbTester

I cannot believe someone is shocked that the "Stepford" Gate Keepers would not know what happened at the gate or pump house.......after all when one is instructed to wave their hand...and repeat "Welcome to the Villages, have a nice day" a few hundred times a day.......it begins to look mechanical, sound mechanical, and appear mechanical. Yes?

Disney Animatronics on their days off?
Remember the Twilight Zone with the Mannaquins that got a month each year to be real people??
Marsha? Marsha?

L&L

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by Larryandlinda

Disney Animatronics on their days off?
Remember the Twilight Zone with the Mannaquins that got a month each year to be real people??
Marsha? Marsha?

L&L

You bet--- 24 hrs of continuous Twilight Zone was on New Years day!

[mommullr]

We too, were interested in what happened at the roundabout at the SeaBreeze / Duval gate. We were paired up today for golf with a gentleman who was just behind the incident. He said " guy in white small size pickup truck just appeared to be confused as to where his truck was in the path of the gate and went on through. Not speeding, not young, maybe just one of us who lost his way home......