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Girl, grandmother die after golf cart hit by car

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Comments (5)

Monday, May 25, 2009

(Updated 7:04 am)

By Hickory Daily Record

HUDSON -- A 15-year-old girl and her grandmother were killed Saturday evening when the golf cart they were using to cross Hickory Nut Ridge Road was struck by a car.

The 15-year-old's twin sister was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

Kara Chandler, 15, of Jefferson Place in Granite Falls, and Karen Smith, 59, of Manor Brook Lane in Hudson, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, said Trooper T.C. Williams of the Highway Patrol. Cressinda Chandler, 15, who was sitting between her sister and grandmother in the golf cart, was airlifted from a staging area at Tri-County Speedway. Med Center Air flew her to CMC.

Kevin Mays, 19, of Beach Street in Granite Falls, was driving a 2001 Mercury Cougar that struck the golf cart as it crossed the road, Williams said.

The accident happened around 5 p.m. and Williams said it was more than likely the result of the driver of the cart, Kara Chandler, not being able to see Mays' car.

''There were two pick-up trucks going in the opposite direction (of Mays) and as they went by, she didn't see the car coming," Williams said.

The accident is still under investigation, but Williams said he doesn't expect any major charges to be filed at this time.

North Catawba Fire-Rescue was the first responder, being dispatched around 5 p.m. Three apparatus trucks and 16 personnel responded to the scene from the department. Those personnel and units sent from the Catawba County Sheriff's Office assisted with traffic while the N.C. Highway Patrol conducted its investigation.

Hickory Nut Ridge Road was closed for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

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Get A Clue

May 25, 2009 - 11:58 am EDT

Just a tragedy, no matter how we look at it. I would not want to be in any of their places.
We must remember that a golf cart has none of the safety devices we find in a motor vehicle; therefore, any time we venture near traffic in one the utmost caution must be exercised. This does not absolve a motor vehicle operator from responsibility to operate it in as safe a manner as possible.

pony2go

May 25, 2009 - 2:55 pm EDT

Get a Clue
You're right it is a tragedy. You are right on all accounts EXCEPT golf carts, atv's, 4 wheelers, etc. are not allow on ANY state maintained roads. This is the very reason they are not allowed on them. I see it all the time and not long ago a 6 year old and a grandmother were killed here locally when the 6 yr old, who was driving, turned in front of a car. The car driver was not a fault there was no way to avoid it. The driver, though not injured, will have to have to live with the mistake the grandmother made for all of them. Even a hit at 20 miles an hour will cause irreparable damage. Maybe non licensed vehicles need to avoid driving on roads. This would solve this type of tragedy.

Get A Clue

May 25, 2009 - 6:38 pm EDT

Yes, I knew that, I was just attempting to step around the obvious...but when lives and safety are involved, it would have been better to have obeyed the law and been inconvenienced than to suffer through all this. Golf carts have no business on or near such roads. I do feel just as badly for both drivers.

kikablue

May 25, 2009 - 6:50 pm EDT

Get A Clue, This is a tragedy for all involved. But I did not see where it said the driver of the vehicle was not driving in a safe and responsible manner as you seem to imply. The golf cart is to be operated off highways and secondary roads. I truly hope the other twin will be alright and can get over this as it will be hard thing not to think about.As it will be for the driver of the vehicle.

Get A Clue

May 25, 2009 - 7:50 pm EDT

The article states she was crossing a road and did not see the car coming, although I did not mean to imply either party was driving poorly. My point is golf carts are simply not meant to be used on, near or across roads as they have no safety equipment and that it's a tragedy for all involved. No finger-pointing, just regret because it did not have to happen.