Man, 83, dies in wrong-way golf cart crash; wife injured

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Authorities say a wrong-way golf cart crash in a Florida gated community killed an 83-year-old man and injured his wife.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office tells news outlets Joseph Heller died in the crash Monday in Estero. His wife, 81-year-old Betty Heller, was riding in the golf cart and suffered life-threatening injuries. Heller died at a hospital where they both were taken after being ejected in the crash.

Deputies say in a report that Heller was driving his golf cart northbound in the southbound lane when it was struck head-on by a pickup truck. It says the truck’s driver told deputies he was distracted after dropping a cigarette, however Heller was at fault because he was on the wrong side of the road.

The crash is being investigated.