Yes. While I was at work a family friend was giving my nearly 2 year old daughter a ride in our golf cart. She stepped out to pick a flower for my daughter's hair, at which point my daughter jumped to the floor and stomped on the accelerator. This was a skill she had learned when I taught her to drive her hot wheels car, which she loved, and we transferred it to the golf cart. My wife and I always took out the keys, being careful not to let our daughter take off in the cart. My wife says she warned her friend to do the same, but for whatever reason she left the keys in the cart. So the golf cart went into our pond at full throttle and became submerged with my daughter floating and trapped against the roof. My wife came running from about 50 yards away but wasn't a good swimmer and couldn't find my daughter in the murky water. The family friend couldn't swim either and finally a neighbor heard her screaming and came over. My daughter was under for over five minutes. She had cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Now the world is a dark place for me. Nothing matters since I'd trade all of it for my daughter back. I used to read or learn a skill and feel good about myself. Not anymore. Everything is meaningless. She was my only child and I loved her more than my life. So I've called upon God and I pray every day. But faith is something that comes and goes for me. I know heaven is my home and one day I'll be with her there. But I also know she's dead at 22 months, buried with her favorite story books and stuffed animals. She was just opening her eyes to the world and its wonders and had two parents who loved her. I really don't see coming back from this.
So anyway, see what you can do to child proof that dune buggy. Keep in mind it won't always be you running the thing.
shit this thread got dark quickly...
Life does the same.
I'm so sorry for your loss May God give you peace
Very sorry for your loss.
Sorry man that is terrible. I hope you find purpose again friend.
so how did you dispose of the carcass of your former friend whom you warned?
So anyway, see what you can do to child proof that dune buggy. Keep in mind it won't always be you running the thing.
You must be a millenial. If your kid can't hold on tight enough to survive a dune buggy ride it doesn't deserve to live.
For the slow ones, my 22 month old daughter was the sole occupant. She drove the cart into the water herself, able to hold on and push the pedal but unable to steer or even know what she was doing otherwise.
Lots of carts have the safety issue where if you simply push the gas pedal it drives. There is no seat switch or putting it in gear. You can step out with the cart still ready to drive if the pedal is pressed. In fact this is considered normal operation. This includes all golf carts (gas and electric) and most go carts and other simple buggies with an automatic clutch. In a club car, pressing the gas pedal even releases the parking brake for you. That last point contributed directly to my daughter's death.
All it takes is a moment of inattention from the adult driver and the kid is dead. As soon as the cart moves you're helpless to hold on or catch it. It's literally as dangerous as handing a loaded pistol to a kid with the safety off. People don't realize this about golf carts and other buggies but it's true. If the kid is ever closer to the cart than you are they're dead. So no you can't leave a child sitting on the seat while you step out for a second to check the mailbox or pick up a piece of trash.
My wife and I knew this, as did our neighbor who had his son total a golf cart when he was 2 years old too. Unfortunately not all adults know it. The standard operation and design of these carts is ridiculous from a child safety standpoint too. Everyone knows guns are dangerous. These carts are the same thing, except 99% of people don't know it.
(post is archived)