The parents of a teen girl have filed a lawsuit after their daughter was seriously injured when she was thrown from a golf cart carrying five minors in St. Johns County, The Citizen has learned.
The lawsuit names the then 13-year-old driver and his parent, who owns the vehicle, alleging negligence and unsafe supervision.
According to court filings, the accident occurred on May 31, 2024.
The young driver, under the legal age to operate a golf cart, allegedly accelerated suddenly, causing the then 15-year-old to be “violently ejected” onto the road.
The suit asserts that she suffered permanent injuries, including physical pain, disability, along with emotional distress.
The parent of the driver is named in the suit for negligent supervision, with plaintiffs claiming the adult failed to prevent unsafe behavior that put others at risk.
St. Johns County tightened rules for golf cart operation in January, 2024 after a rash of serious wrecks.
The ordinance banned anyone under 18 from operating a golf cart on county roads or multi-use paths without a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said at the time the rules were enacted after a rise in serious accidents involving underage drivers.
The new lawsuit comes months after a Nocatee woman, Christina Theodosiou, died after falling from a golf cart being driven by her husband, who was cited for DWI.
That case is still ongoing.
