Florida man charged with DUI in golf cart crash that killed wife: officials

A recent golf-cart crash in Jacksonville, Florida ended in tragedy, highlighting growing safety concerns tied to rising golf-cart use in residential communities. On a Sunday night, 64-year-old Angelo Theodosiou allegedly drove a golf cart in the Nocatee neighborhood under the influence. His wife, 58-year-old Christina Theodosiou, was reportedly thrown from the cart, suffered a fatal head injury, and died at the scene. Police reports noted alcohol on the driver’s breath, watery eyes, and a refusal of a breathalyzer test. 

The fatal crash is being treated as a DUI case, underscoring an alarming reality: golf carts—even when driven slowly—can cause serious harm and death when misused. As communities increasingly rely on these vehicles for everyday transport, especially in retirement areas and neighborhoods with golf-cart–friendly policies, incidents like this become more common.

National data paints a sobering picture. According to surveillance of emergency-room reports, about 15,000 golf cart–related injuries occur annually in the United States.  A more conservative five-year review (2018–2022) identified 17,488 injuries or deaths, averaging around 3,500 golf-cart accidents each year requiring hospital attention.  Many of these incidents happen in residential areas or community roads, not just on golf courses. 

Some studies have examined communities heavily reliant on golf carts for daily mobility. For example, an analysis of crashes in a Florida retirement community recorded 875 golf-cart–related incidents over eight years — including an annual average of 136 crashes, 65 hospitalizations, and about nine deaths or disabilities per year.  Notably, about 27% of these incidents involved ejections — where passengers were thrown from the vehicle, a frequent and dangerous outcome when carts are used on streets rather than dedicated paths. 

Key risk factors consistently emerge: golf carts often lack basic safety features like seat belts, airbags, and structural protections found in cars. Their light weight, high center of gravity, small wheels, and lack of braking or stability systems make them vulnerable to rollovers, especially during sharp turns, steep inclines, or collisions.  Using carts on public roads — especially under the influence or with unsafe behavior — dramatically increases danger, as shown by multiple fatal and disabling incidents. 

In the Jacksonville case, those dangers converged: impaired driving, use of a street cart rather than a golf-course vehicle, and a passenger being ejected — leading to a fatal outcome. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder: golf carts are not toys. When used carelessly, especially on public roads and under dangerous conditions, they can kill.

As communities continue to adopt golf carts for convenience — particularly in states like Florida, where cart usage remains high — public awareness, stricter safety regulations, and responsible use become ever more critical. For individual drivers, the message is clear: treat golf carts like any motor vehicle — don’t drink and drive them, avoid risky maneuvers, and only use them where permitted.