A 73-year-old golf cart passenger has died four days after a two-vehicle crash at a Lake Worth intersection, turning a routine ride into a fatal ordeal. The man was violently thrown from the open cart when it was struck by a Toyota Camry at Military Trail and Canal Drive on June 10, 2026. He was hospitalized in critical condition and was pronounced dead at about 10:45 a.m. on June 14 at Delray Medical Center. The golf cart’s driver suffered only minor injuries.
Crash Details and Ongoing Probe
According to the Boca Raton Tribune, the crash happened on June 10 when a 2017 Toyota Camry driven by 60-year-old J. F. of Lake Worth tried to turn left from eastbound Canal Drive onto northbound Military Trail. As the Camry made the turn, it hit the front driver’s side of a 2013 Club Car golf cart that was exiting a parking lot.
Palm Beach County traffic homicide investigators say neither the golf cart operator, identified as 49-year-old A. D., nor the passenger were using any safety equipment when the collision occurred. Both were taken by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue to Delray Medical Center. The investigation is being led by Palm Beach County traffic division investigator Doerr, and officials say potential traffic charges are still under review.
Law, Safety Rules, and What Research Shows
Florida law limits where golf carts can be driven on public roads and puts local governments in charge of deciding which streets are safe for cart use. Equipment rules and time-of-day restrictions can also apply. Under Florida Statutes Section 316.212, a road must be formally designated as suitable for golf carts before they are allowed on it, and signage has to be posted to let drivers know when operation is permitted. Violating that statute is treated as a traffic infraction.
Medical and public-health research has flagged the exact kind of scenario investigators describe here. Studies on golf-cart injuries have found that being thrown from an open cart is strongly linked to more severe trauma, and that children and older adults are particularly at risk. Reviews of injury and crash data note that ejection and the absence of restraints are common factors in serious outcomes when golf carts mix with larger vehicles on or near roadways, according to an NIH review.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Authorities notified the passenger’s next of kin on June 14, the same day he was pronounced deceased, as the investigation continued. As reported by the Boca Raton Tribune, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office traffic division is handling the case and has said possible traffic charges remain under review.
So far, officials have not announced any arrests or criminal charges. Investigators are expected to keep examining vehicle damage, along with any available video or witness statements, as they work to piece together exactly how the Lake Worth crash turned deadly.
