Investigation Continues In Crash Between Car, Golf Cart Full Of Kids
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PALMETTO BAY (CBSMiami) – The investigation into a crash between a car and a golf cart full of kids continues in Palmetto Bay.
The accident took place on Monday when police say the golf cart ran a stop sign and moved right into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
The oldest of the kids, 16-year-old Sabrina Acuna, was driving the golf cart.
Surveillance footage shows the golf cart heading west on Southwest 170th Street, traveling on the wrong side of the road.
It was next to someone on an ATV who was in the right lane.
"The golf cart was struck and did flip over," said Miami Police Detective Robin Pinkard. "All of the occupants were ejected. We have two of the occupants who are in critical condition. The driver of the other vehicle did stay on scene."
A total of five kids, all under the age of 16, were involved in the crash.
"I wake up this morning I hear a commotion I see a golf cart turned over," said neighbor Sebastian Acosta.
Another neighbor, Leo Tio, added, "We got there and there were kids spread out in the middle of the street with blood everywhere."
Tio, who was very emotional when speaking to CBS4's Tiani Jones, actually drove one of the kid's mothers to the crash site.
He said the 12-year-old passenger, later identified as Devon Bennar, appeared to have a head injury.
"I couldn't see his face it was all covered in blood, and he had difficulty breathing," Tio said.
It isn't abnormal to see neighborhood kids driving around on golf carts according to Acosta, who said that it was especially busy on Monday night.
"They were riding back and forth I didn't think anything of it. They did have a loud stereo playing," he said.
Police said golf carts are a norm in the area.
"The Village of Palmetto Bay does have county ordinance for golf carts," Pinkard said.
The rules are simple, the cart must be registered, driven by a licensed driver and everyone on the golf cart has to wear a seat belt.
Police said they are looking into whether any rules were broken.
Three of the kids on the cart, including a 2-year-old, were not hurt. However, the 16-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy are in critical condition.