Chopper Airlifts Golf Cart Accident Victim

A woman thrown from a golf cart was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center Thursday, with first responders using a St. Agnes playing field as an emergency helipad.  The woman, the cart’s sole occupant, suffered an injury to the head when the cart flipped over, police said.  She was not identified.

Fire Rescue Chief Eric Lang said the woman, about age 50, was ejected from a golf cart near 101 Hampton Lane. He said there was no collision with another vehicle. Police Chief Charles Press attributed the accident to excessive speed. “The driver failed to recognize the speed she was making the turn.” He said a traffic investigation is ongoing.

A crowd of onlookers watched as a Miami-Dade rescue helicopter took the patient away for treatment from St. Agnes, as a portion of Harbor Drive was closed to traffic.

Acting Fire Rescue Lt. Robert Campos walks across field at St. Agnes Church after air rescue helicopter took a person ejected from a golf cart to a hospital, as onlookers stay to sidelines, May 2, 2019 (Key News/Tony Winton)

“The paramedics’ decision to call the chopper was based on the time of day and the traffic,” Lang said.

Village Parks and Recreation Director Todd Hofferberth, who happened to be passing by, helped in coordinating the landing zone.

“It was very scary,” said Lang. “We hope the patient makes a recovery.”

Press said that people often fail to recognize that traveling in a golf cart on regular streets can be risky. “Those golf carts are extremely dangerous,” he said.