CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A very popular and fun activity residents like to do in Port Aransas is to rent golf carts since driving on the beaches in Port Aransas is allowed.
Last Friday, Barbara Vipond and her friend were visiting Port Aransas for the weekend when a 13-year-old girl driving a golf cart hit them from behind.
Vipond says she and her friend, Jill Cones Riedel, were sitting on the beach when the golf cart hit them from behind. Riedel took the brunt of the impact.
“She had her foot stuck up underneath it, and the tire was on her head. Amazingly she pulled out her foot and moved it up off her head, and crawled out. I was in shock and just thankful she was alive,” Vipond said.
Vipond and Riedel were transferred to the Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area.
"I am very bruised, I am very sore. I have pockets of blood that have formed, and my shoulder, of course, we are going to doctors, and they are trying to see if they can fix me,” Vipond said.
In a Facebook post, Riedel's daughter said her mother has several broken bones and a large gash and bruises all over her body. She also said her mother has been suffering from anxiety and PTSD.
According to Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs, all the same traffic laws apply to golf carts.
“A golf cart by definition is a motor vehicle, so the same traffic laws apply with the golf cart that applies with any other motor vehicles .” Said Burroughs.
According to police, teens driving golf carts without a license will not only face fines starting at $500, but their parents will face charges as well.
In order to rent golf carts, you must show proof of car insurance and a valid license, and just like a car rental, many rental companies in Port Aransas require you to be over 21 years old.
Gary Omary is the manager of Cars and Carts; however, his company was not involved in the incident. Omary said they are required by law to enforce the rules on the contract before renting out to people.
But once everything is approved, and the cart is out, whatever happens after is out of their hands.
“It's kind of a difficult thing that is kind of out of our hands. But, if we see or if we are told, we will go check it out, and if it’s true, then we have to repossess that golf cart because it is in the contract,” Omary said.
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