Caledon Golf Cart Fatality Prompts Warning From Family

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 24, 2015 /CNW/ - The wife of a 52-year-old Mississauga man who died after being thrown from a golf cart in April, is hoping that her husband's death will serve as a stark reminder to other golfers about the hidden dangers on golf courses that may cause injury or death.

"What happened to Jim could happen to any golfer," said Elly Smith, whose husband Jim Smith died after his golf cart crashed at a Caledon golf course. "My hope is that no one takes their safety on the golf course for granted."

On April 27^th, Jim Smith, a father of two, was part of a foursome golfing at the Caledon Golf and Country Club. Smith was driving his cart down a steep, narrow cart path on the 14^th hole, when his cart lost control. The cart crashed into a retaining wall, immediately next to the cart path, and both Smith and his passenger were ejected. Smith suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to St. Michael's hospital, where he died the following day.

"While Smith's fatal crash has been described as an isolated incident, it is anything but," said Michael Smitiuch, of Smitiuch Injury Law PC. "The reality is that accidents on the golf course are far more common than people might think."

In 2010, a man died after falling off a golf cart at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. In 2012, three women were hurt at the Richmond Hill Country Club after one of them lost control of the cart. Last July, a woman was seriously injured after being struck by an unmanned golf cart at a Midland golf course.

Each year, about 13-thousand golf cart related injuries require emergency room treatment in the U.S. Half of these injuries involve a fall from a moving cart, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. In 2000 there were 19 golf cart deaths in the U.S. Similar statistics on golf course accidents are not readily available in Canada.

Smitiuch, who is advocating on the Smith family's behalf, is in contact with police and the Peel Region coroner's office, to find out more about the circumstances surrounding Jim Smith's death.

"The Smith family wants to better understand how this could have happened," Smitiuch added. "If this tragedy can help improve golf course safety through greater awareness, that's the family's goal."

SOURCE Smitiuch Injury Law Professional Corporation

For further information: Michael Smitiuch, [e-mail], 416-621-1551; Danna O'Brien, [e-mail], 416-500-0699