A serene round of golf at the Billy Caldwell Golf Course was violently disrupted Monday evening when a 70-year-old golfer became the victim of an erratic driver behind the wheel of an SUV. The golfer, enjoying his time on the fifth hole, was struck by the vehicle around 5:30 p.m. and is now fighting for his life in intensive care, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Witnesses at the scene described chaotic moments leading up to the incident, with one golfer, Ed Waters, recounting the driver's alarming demeanor to CBS News Chicago. Waters stated, "and the guy was gnashed-teeth, raged, like, fist clenched on the wheel. Just like, a very unsettling countenance." The same witness recalled employees and golfers alike scrambling to avoid the SUV and aid the situation, with one employee even attempting to use his vehicle to stop the SUV.
The Forest Glen neighborhood was the unlikely backdrop for this bizarre vehicular intrusion, with the golf course being part of the tranquil Caldwell Woods forest preserve. The SUV did not stop its rampage until law enforcement arrived on the scene, thanks to the swift action of both Chicago and Forest Preserve police, as noted by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The aftermath of the event was recorded by golfers, showing a strong police and EMS presence. The injured man was promptly moved to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, and according to a CBS News Chicago interview with one of the witnesses, the urgency was palpable: "The yells of you know, like, 'Someone call an ambulance!' you could hear them clearly." Meanwhile, the assailant was arrested with charges pending, although details of what spurred this reckless act remain undisclosed. Further updates on the victim’s condition have yet to be released.
