A fatal crash in the early hours of Friday, May 30, claimed the life of a 62-year-old man from Jefferson City, Missouri. The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on private property located north of Dunwandrin Road in Morgan County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the man was driving a golf cart eastbound when it struck a rock, causing him to be thrown from the vehicle. After being ejected, the golf cart rolled over and came to rest on top of him.
Emergency responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. Authorities noted that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that no one else was in the golf cart during the incident. This marks the third fatality in May for Troop F and the 15th for the year. Additional details about the accident have not been released.
Golf cart accidents in the United States result in an estimated 13,000 injuries each year, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. While fatalities are less common, between 20 and 40 deaths occur annually due to golf cart-related incidents. These fatalities often involve rollovers, ejections, or collisions, particularly when golf carts are driven on streets, in neighborhoods, or at public events rather than golf courses.
Common contributing factors include a lack of seat belts, excessive speed, distracted driving, and unqualified or impaired operators. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable. Injuries often include head trauma, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries, particularly when passengers are thrown from the vehicle.
As golf cart use becomes more common in non-golf settings, many communities are re-evaluating safety rules, considering regulations such as seat belt requirements and stricter age limits for drivers.
