A serious crash involving a golf cart and a minivan in Wake Forest, North Carolina, left two teenage girls with traumatic injuries and prompted a large emergency response as investigators worked to determine what happened.
The collision occurred in the 7700 block of Stony Hill Road near Stonewyck Lane, northwest of the Town of Wake Forest. According to CBS 17, emergency crews quickly converged on the scene after reports of a crash involving the golf cart and a minivan. The impact was severe enough that the golf cart was destroyed.
Two Teenagers Airlifted to Trauma Center
Northern Wake Fire Department Chief Blake Wright told reporters at the scene that both teenage girls who had been riding in the golf cart were transported to Duke Hospital, a regional trauma center, for treatment of traumatic injuries. No details about the extent of those injuries or their current conditions have been released.
The driver of the other vehicle, an adult man operating the minivan, was not injured in the collision, according to Wright.
While investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the wreck, officials have not yet determined which vehicle was at fault or what events led to the collision. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. CBS 17 reported that it reached out to investigators for additional information but had not received further details.
Neighbors Raise Ongoing Golf Cart Safety Concerns
The incident has also renewed attention to the presence of golf carts in residential neighborhoods. A nearby resident, who asked not to be identified, said golf carts are a common sight in the area and expressed concern about how they are sometimes used.
The resident, identified by CBS 17 as Romero, said it is not unusual to see golf carts carrying more passengers than they were designed to accommodate.
“And oftentimes they’ll have kids piled on, you know, more than what should be allowed in a golf cart given the number of seats that were there,” Romero said. “So, definitely a safety concern.”
Although those observations reflect ongoing concerns within the neighborhood, authorities have not indicated whether passenger count, speed, or any other factor played a role in this particular crash. Those questions remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigation Continues
Golf carts have become increasingly common in many neighborhoods across North Carolina, particularly in communities where residents use them for short trips between homes, parks, and nearby amenities. However, they provide significantly less protection than passenger vehicles, making collisions with larger automobiles especially dangerous.
For now, investigators are focused on reconstructing the crash and determining exactly what happened on Stony Hill Road. Until that work is complete, the cause of the collision and any potential charges or citations remain unknown. The condition of the two injured teenagers has not been updated.
