Passenger critical after golf cart accident

Historic City News in St Augustine has learned that a passenger returning a golf cart in Ponte Vedra Beach suffered life-threatening injuries last night, when she was thrown from the cart in the area of Pablo Road, just west of Ponte Vedra Boulevard.

Kevin Kelshaw, spokesman for the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, reported this morning that 22-year-old Katherine J Callaway of Ponte Vedra Beach, who was riding on the passenger side of the golf cart, was ejected onto the concrete pavement as it turned to cross Pablo Road.

At about 5:15 p.m., 23-year-old Cohen B Lairsey of Atlantic Beach was returning the golf cart to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Lairsey was traveling west on the sidewalk-cart path that runs along the north side of Pablo Road.

Lairsey told traffic homicide investigators that when he made the left turn to cross Pablo Road and enter the cart area, Callaway, who he says was “texting” with both hands, was ejected from the cart. The golf carts are reportedly not equipped with seat belts.

Callaway sustained life threatening injuries from the fall and was transported to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center; where she remains in critical condition, according to Kelshaw.

Charges are pending the completion of the investigation.