A golf outing turned scary in Eddyville. Last Saturday, just before 6 p.m., A rented golf cart flipped on Holiday Hills Drive, leaving a juvenile injured and sending local authorities rushing to the scene. This marks the second golf cart accident reported in Lyon County in just a few days, raising concerns over safety.

As per the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Bobby Beeler and other first responders were immediately rushed to the scene after receiving a call of the rollover. After further investigation, it was determined that the cart was being operated by a 33-year-old Sharon Carlton of Macedonia, Illinois, with a cart defect suspected.

Reports reveal that the right wheels of the golf cart left the roadway, causing Carlton to lose control. The vehicle then traveled up an embankment and overturned, which caused some occupants to be ejected.

One of them was a juvenile female passenger, who suffered injury and was then led by Lyon County EMS to an area hospital for treatment. Not much was released regarding the extent of her injuries. The other three passengers were reportedly unharmed.

Deputy Beeler and emergency crews remained at the scene to manage the situation and begin an investigation into what led to the accident. While not many details have been released, except for the few reported, this crash adds to the growing concern about the consistent golf cart-related accidents in the area.

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Just days before this incident, on September 30, Lyon County deputies responded to another golf cart rollover. This time, the incident took place at Lake Barkley Drive. Coincidentally, the event also took place at around 6 pm. Three people were left injured that time.

According to a report from the West Kentucky Star, 38-year-old Lance Stagner of Murray was the one driving the cart when the accident occurred. Deputies said that the cart was traveling uphill when a passenger at the back of it stood up, which shifted the vehicle’s weight and caused it to overturn down an embankment.

Stagner and the other two passengers were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A third passenger was taken to a separate medical facility. The fourth passenger, per reports, managed to escape any injury.

These two incidents, less than a week apart, have occurred under eerily similar conditions. They have naturally drawn attention to the increased use of golf carts and their accidents on local roads and vacation areas around Lyon County. At the same time, the country in general has seen a rise in such crashes in the recent past.

Nationwide data shows over 15,000 emergency department visits each year linked to golf cart incidents. This is a 130% increase over the past 15 years. Even more alarming, around 600 deaths occur annually due to this, with nearly one-third of victims under the age of 16. In fact, a recent incident led to the airlifting of an 82-year-old man as he suffered deep injuries.

These incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. News has sparked broader conversations about the need to follow proper safety procedures.

Can similar golfing accidents be prevented?

Golf cart safety is crucial if one does not want to end up in a hospital bed. There are several procedures that can be followed to ensure passenger safety.

Before driving a cart, make sure the driver is sober and meets the age requirement. They should be aware of all the technicalities of the cart and should thoroughly conduct a pre-use inspection. This includes checking brakes, tires, steering, lights, battery changes, and so on.

Passengers share the responsibility, too. Many golf courses and their surrounding areas have hilly or uneven terrain. That’s why riders should stay seated, face forward, and use seatbelts when available.

Extra passengers should not be allowed if it goes beyond the manufacturer’s limit. If there are children on the cart, they should be carefully and strictly supervised and seated according to age and weight restrictions.

If such rules and restrictions are followed properly, many such incidents can be prevented. The repeated incident ties the local news specifically to the ongoing national concerns and reinforces the importance of the safety recommendations.