In golf, we have heard of several instances where players have been injured on the course. Oftentimes, we hear of players being struck by a ball, or in unfortunate cases, even by lightning. But in a recent incident in Virginia revealed that danger can come from unexpected places — even from a golf cart. What began as a regular afternoon on the greens turned into a life-threatening situation when a woman ended up trapped under an overturned cart in a water hazard.

On Thursday afternoon, things took an unexpected turn at the Loudon Golf & Country Club when an emergency call brought first responders rushing to the scene. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, a woman was trapped in the water beneath an overturned golf cart in a water body. The deputies were called to the 36000 block of West Main Street in Purcellville shortly before 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 7. While the officials haven’t revealed how the incident occurred, the woman was quickly rescued by bystanders on the course.

Without waiting for emergency crews, bystanders rushed to pull her from the water and began CPR in a desperate effort to revive her. Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies took over soon after. Their quick thinking and decisive action likely saved her life, turning a frightening scene into a successful rescue and giving her a crucial chance at survival as she was transported to a nearby hospital. The sheriff’s office has not released further details, and both the woman’s exact condition and the circumstances of the accident remain under investigation.

Although golf is a fairly safe sport, accidents on the course occur more often than many expect. Water hazards and the naturally undulating terrain of most courses can quickly turn dangerous, particularly when golf carts are involved. Even experienced players can find themselves in the middle of accidents if they’re not cautious. These incidents make the case for pushing for more safety awareness on golf courses.

Golf cart accidents are common

Golf cart accidents are so common that every year, more than 15,000 people end up in emergency rooms. And since the 1990s, the statistics have jumped by nearly 130%. Over a recent 16-year span, nearly 150,000 ER visits were linked to golf cart incidents, according to a law firm. While many of these include on-course incidents, some even occur in neighbourhoods or other areas where carts have become a popular mode of commuting. Common causes of accidents range from passengers riding on the back, or speeding around curves, and even distracted driving because of checking their phones or driving after a few drinks.

This incident takes us back to one earlier in May, where a fatal accident involving Jeff Sperbeck, a longtime agent and friend of NFL legend John Elway, was under the spotlight. Early reports suggested that Sperbeck may have been riding off the back of the cart, a common but risky behavior that leads to accidents. Another incident involving coach Ryan Day, along with QB Will Howard, occurred in January this year, where they were headed towards a post-game press conference, but their cart crashed into a wall.

Moreover, just today, July 9, another golf cart incident made headlines—this time involving Fayette Schools Superintendent Angela Belcher of Napoleon, Ohio. According to police, Belcher was arrested after a late-night crash on July 26, when her golf cart collided with a truck near the Napoleon Police Department. Authorities said the cart’s headlights were off at the time, though Belcher disputed this, claiming they were on—security footage suggested otherwise. Officers reported that she smelled of alcohol, and she admitted to having had two glasses of wine a couple of hours earlier. While she initially resisted field sobriety tests, she eventually complied, but refused a breath test. Belcher has since pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case is still under investigation.

These incidents are a reminder for everyone that golf carts aren’t toys. They’re motorized vehicles capable of causing serious harm. We need to operate them with the same caution as we do when we are driving a car. Even a slight distraction or recklessness can be the difference between a safe ride and a life-altering accident.