I don't think that the medical cause would be public record, but driving impaired might. I always wonder why such a very awful and sad accident cause some people to act and speak angrily, as if so many things called accidents aren't just that.


Would it matter if it was a stroke, a heart attack, sudden onset of a seizure? It would certainly matter if he was using an illegal substance, but that is usually easy to ascertain.


So many people experience sadness, shock and feel it in their heart.... and get angry, when sometimes nothing could have prevented this or changed it.

I would not make assumptions about someone's net worth based on the car they drive.

Possible lease car
 

Unless it was a leased car.

Today's Daily Sun two woman, friends for over 40 years died in the accident from a driver who had an a medical emergency, 58 years old. I believe they were thrown from the cart. The third person was hit by the cart and will recover from his injuries. Both woman were unaware this was happening, unfortunately.

Another sad accident that might have had a better result if seat belts were worn but that is speculation on my part. I find it very sad that we have lived this long and get killed in what one thinks, should be a safe place to travel.

Many years ago, I had to take courses in defensive driving for the company I worked for, as I was in field service. The police officer said, "I never unbuckled a dead person".

My deepest condolences to the families and friends to the victims of this tragic accident.

It Absolutely matters what caused this. If my loved one were killed by another I would insist on knowing if the other driver had been impaired. Accidents of course happen but it is the Duty of authorities to let the family know exactly what happened. Again if heart attack or stroke, there was passenger in car who would have witnessed this. They already know. My point is, why hold back medical condition, unless something that would upset villagers.

I just viewed the victims picture on another online news site, enjoying dinner and each others company just the night before this happened. How tragic and sad for the families and friends of all involved. Life is so precious. Anything other than grieving for the victims, or taking the time to be thankful for our lives at this time is quite inappropriate. And when the time comes if we are to know something, we'll be told.

Do you all believe this accident may be a reality check for all of us? We enjoy living here, but over the last 4 years we have seen the myth chipped away. It's a great idea to drive around in a cute golf cart. But the reality is that perhaps it has become just too crowded here. The roads where the golf carts are right next to the cars on the same road is just plain dangerous. I thought the MM roads set back from the road is a better design. Now this. This is not a cutesy retirement community. There was a time I'm sure. Not any longer. I believe the golf cart driver needs to think twice before taking a spin. Think where you are going, the season of the year, the time of day. Never Colony Plaza area. Never. It's dicey there even in a car.

Another accident just came to mind. Remember the man who had a "medical event" and hit a women on a bicycle? It was on Morse north of 466. Anyone know how they are? Especially the woman on the bike.

Hula hips, I believe the HIPPA law would protect health information and applies to everyone, which is probably why this is referred to as a "medical incident." Everyone might also want to remember that if the driver, friends or relatives were to read this series of posts, several of the posts would undoubtedly offend them. I know I would be offended by some of these posts, as well as be happy for the warm get well wishes.

I have not seen a post here that would offend family and friends. All prayers and condolences are absolutely with them. Our hearts are broken for such loss. Possibilities are many of course and we do not know details yet. My only concern is something I have learned throughout life and my work experience. Sometimes silence is much more telling then revealing. I do hope for the family's sake it was a unpreventable accident to make it a bit easier on them ,If that is even possible. My prayers and sympathy are certainly sincere and may God be with them during this difficult time

You do raise a good point. Golf carts and cars side by side are dangerous. Perhaps it's better in a smaller community but it may be time to think about are we just too large now for safety to not be a consideration? I hate reading about all these golf cart accidents

I agree with you about The Villages are too crowded. We also have lived here 4 years but have been visiting 7 years. The difference in the crowd and the "attitude" of the larger crowds is quite noticeable. We were out Saturday afternoon and I was overwhelmed with the crowd it's no longer Florida's friendliest hometown. It is a busy city. .
Tic

It is the high season and it is crowded all over Florida. There are folks staying here during the high season who have no interest vested or emotional in this community and they act that way wherever they are. That is NOT to say that all people who own here are nice and pleasant. That isn't true. It is crowded now and I don't like it at this time of the year. I like the other nine months so much better. AND this was not a jab at snowbirds like our wonderful Barefoot and many others. It is crowded, Florida is enjoying....or suffering through one of the busiest tourist times it has had in YEARS....according to Wesh 2. Gas prices down and employment up may be the reason.


Watch out...incoming................

I avoid the Colony Plaza. area at all cost. Would never consider taking my cart there. Too crowded and people too impatient (if u know what I mean). I stay north of 466.

Very nicely put!

I agree with you 100% that it is high season and tourism is at its peak, and my comments have absolutely nothing to do with snowbirds, nothing. It has to do with the size The Villages have become, Fruitland Park. Labelle, and Osceola Hills and how knows what's too come. Those Villages will not be snowbirds only, they will have permanent residents, hence more crowds. I love it here, I'm not going anywhere, I'll just accept change and fondly remember how it was in 2006.

golf cart accident by Colony
 

I agree. But there is far less urgency or obligation to make that information public. Curiosity or simple desire-to-know by uninvolved parties is not the same as family grief and potential recourse.

Also agree. It is not just the snowbirds but the addition of more and more and more residents. Snowbirds do get tired of going back and forth and eventually settle here. I know several. Think the point being made was the villages w

A nice friendly safe community but at some point should have been capped off. I would have liked them to stop before going across 466a and took the concept, idea, building into other states such as Texas, Arizona, etc why not allow others to enjoy our lifestyle also without cramming us all in and losing that friendly atmosphere that the original founder had in mind

Yes completely understand your point. But down the road would like the truth to come out so we can all make decisions on whether we have reached a point where we have become so crowded, we may no longer be safe. But your point is respected as should everyone's be on the website. Tks for sharing

golf cart accident by Colony
 

I also respect your opinion. But I don't share the opinion that growth is reducing The Villages' appeal.

Nothing can be done...anywhere...to eliminate all accidents.

Good points
 

January, February and March are busy months everywhere in Florida. A very good point. This terrible accident had little to do with how busy it was or how many were shopping at Colony Plaza or that residents were driving around in their golf cart or a man was on a practice run to train for a marathon. Rather, it had everything to do with a 58 year old man suffering a medical emergency while driving his SUV and unfortunately it resulted in a horrible accident that was unpredictable and unintentional.

There is no need to become paranoid about driving our golf carts because of a "one in 10 million freak accident". My prayers go out to family and friends of all affected by this tragedy.

Hi polar bear. No one loves the villages more than me but if being honest, I do believe we are losing the appeal because of the size and crowd. I constantly have eyes and ears open and listen to others. I hear women complain they have to wait an hr go get in exercise class (I go to gym and waited today for treadmill but not an hr). They can't get into clubs that are closed because of large number of people or even be seen in the hospital w/o waiting 10 hrs. I still love it here but let's see IF I can get parking or a seat tonight for Rocky and the rollers? Looking forward to it, but if I have to turn around and come home due to large crowd, what's the point? Hmmm. Shall see.

Disney World was smaller at one time I suppose. The Villages does seem to be modeled on it at least the Villages as seen by the Morses.

There is no such thing as a slow week in Disney World any longer either. Build it and they shall come. We are living on a finite sized planet and the human population continues to grow unchecked. We don't need smaller houses or smaller cars or conservation, we need less people to be born and then attrition will take care of our future needs without any need to go "green" which is only a stop gap measure anyway.

Georgia Guidestones???????

It is sad that this had to happen at all. As for anyone, other than the immediate families of those involved, all the victims as well as the driver, it does not need to be public knowledge if it was something medical. Right away, people started jumping on testing, etc., of all persons over a particular age. The tone then changed when it turned out the person was 58 years old to "likely impaired".

For crying out loud, stuff happens and we don't always "need to know" just because we are Villagers. If this was not medical and ends up to be something else, charges likely will be levied against the driver. Then it will become very public. Right now, it is all among law enforcement and the families involved.

As for too many people and too many golf carts: I know of no one here being required to stay in what they consider "an unsafe environment". I don't know of anyone "required" to have to get around by cart. Why would anyone consider changing something that works very well 99.99% of the time because they are not comfortable with it? If it's not for you, then by all means, don't. We all came here freely and part of that attraction had to do with being able to get around by golf cart for what I think is the majority of us. As large as it is getting, perhaps there will come a time when we don't even need cars unless we plan to go out of town as more and more resources are being made available. Then renting one is an option for those occasions.

We have a car and a cart. I have given thought to perhaps not ever buying another car when this one needs replacing and just investing in another cart. When I want to go see my kids, I can either rent a car or fly. There are many advantages to doing this:

1) Virtually no maintenance
2) No auto insurance
3) No expensive licensing

You get the idea.

Like I said once before, you cannot avoid all the perils of life. There is no reason for all the panic over a one-in-a-million event. I am a firm believer in "when it's your time to go, it's your time to go", and for the most part, that time is not pretty no matter the manner.

Well Said. :thumbup:

You have clearly listed some pros to golf carts. However only fair to list the cons.
Not sure they are meant to be driven in highly trafficking area due to safety concerns
They do Not offer same protection a vehicle does
More likely suited for smaller community
No AC in summer
No heat in cold

I love my golf cart too but let's be fair and list the pros and cons!

Cool ! I love Wikipedia :read:

Regarding the "cause" of this most unfortunate incident which took the lives of two innocent victims, those with a need to know will eventually find out the results of the police investigation. As for those motivated simply by curiosity, they will have to wait, and perhaps the results will never be made public.

Sadly this accident could have happened in July. The crowds in high season would have nothing to do with this horrible accident. I for one do not need to know what caused the medical emergency, just that this couple will have to live with what happened and two families will have lost loved ones. The third party involved was a man of the cloth, yet still was injured, while running. No one had the chance to react, the only thing that being high season was there were people there to try and help the victims.

That is the most intelligent thing I have read on the subject of this accident. How compassionate, thank you!

Thank you for bringing this forum back to earth

What would you do
 

This is a tragic event and requires us to think about what we would do if we were the passenger in the car.

In most cases if the passenger recognizes an event taking place and can think fast enough they could grab the wheel , turn off ignition and pull emergency brake. In most car designs it is hard for a passenger to reach brake on floor. Also as a last resort you could put transmission in reverse. All this to save your live and perhaps others.

Maybe everyone should look at their car and look at alternatives.

It appears the car was a runaway car, not sure if cruise control was on but it appeared the car continued to move forward long after it hit the curb.

i

Exactly the same reason I am in The Villages, the infrastructure w golf carts.

Yes, because we all know no one ever gets killed in a car

Increased speed
 

Believevthey saidvthe carecincreased speed, possibly driver extended foot on gas pedal in response to medical emergency affecting his body.

I don't think the poster stated no one ever gets killed in a car but your chances of survival are much much higher if in the car, not the golf cart. I'm sure that is what he meant.

It is possible that in terms of fatalities per mile driven, golf carts are safer than cars. I am not saying it is true but you may wish to consider that it might be. I don't have the statistics. Typically, safety statistics are presented in those sorts of terms. For example, with airliners. Nobody will question that a car offers more protection if you are in an accident than a golf cart but you may statistically be at greater risk of being in an fatal accident with a car than a golf cart. If you are trying to minimize risk, statistics provide useful information with regard to random events (which the thread subject matter was).

Thank you for the voice of reasoning Jim.:agree: