Girl, 4, severely injured in crash at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness
News — By admin on November 2, 2009 at 1:27 pmFrom Sentinel Staff Writer Bianca Prieto
A 4-year-old girl was seriously injured this weekend at Disney’s Fort Wilderness when a golf cart she was riding overturned, partially pinning her underneath.
The child was riding with her father in their personal golf cart around 10:30 p.m. Saturday when the cart overturned. The driver, Charles Wickt, 37, of Big Pine Key, told officers that he swerved to avoid another cart that was driving toward them without lights, Orange County Sheriff’s Office reports show.
When the cart turned over the girl was thrown from the passenger seat and pinned. She suffered injuries to her neck, head and face, reports show. She was flown to Arnold Palmer Hospital where she was rushed into surgery. She was listed in stable condition.
Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Tags: Fort Wilderness, News
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66 Comments
Well, I hope you like paying $60+ for a daily golf cart rental because this pretty much slammed the door on personal carts inside the campgrounds.
I can’t believe anyone would truly be upset about having to pay for a golf cart when a child’s life is at risk. If all we had to do was worry about whether we could or could not bring our own golf carts to a resort it would be a pretty decent world we live in.
How about trying to find a little compassion for the child and what her parents must be going through as the result of someone’s negligence in operating a cart with no lights! Thanks
…..and then there was the 74 year old woman run over by a scooter at Universal last year. Yes, really, it was my mother.
Vehicles of ANY description are simply not appropriate at theme parks.
I was @ a high school football game and 2 of the kids helping one of the food vendors was allowed to take the “gator/ATV-type cart” to deliver some supplies. They were driving all over the place around and through the crowd. I saw the danger and did email the principal next morning because they went by me within 2 ft @ at least 10 mph. Doesn’t sound fast, but had a kid run in front of them in the crowd…do I need explain? I didn’t see any kids on that thing again. Just school employees, coaches, and volunteer parents.
No…vehicles shouldn’t be driving through crowds for certain.
Yeah its actually like 76 and change but I was told they are taking that away anyway because the people who bring there personal carts don’t think rules apply to them and that’s how accidents happen
Factually, I see more problems with the rentals than the owned ones…expecially with children driving and 13 people loaded onto a cart that seats 4.
We just visited Ft Wilderness and, while the golf carts are a great idea and seemingly necessary for the size of the campgrounds, ANYONE is driving them – some parents with kids on their laps, dads who have been drinking with their buddies at their campgrounds, teenagers…
Some were racing around the corners, some with no lights turned on, some racing to the next event. One swerved to avoide hitting our horse and carriage ride others raced us. Most people are responsible and considerate, but I noticed too many were taking liberties with their carts as if they had the right of way over pedestrians. Maybe security needs to step it up and watch more of these drivers as they take their carts out.
Golf carts are never a necessity. The human race did fine without them for thousands of years, along with computers, cell phones, credit cards, and a whole bunch of other things that advertisers have managed to make us believe are “necessities.” I wonder how many people think that golf carts are necessary, and in the next breath will whine about how fat their fellow Americans have gotten?
I hope the girl recovers, and the family comes to their senses.
Commenting on something you know nothing about is not a necessity either. You do know that The human race did just fine without your comments? But guess what…we still allow you to comment even though it is not a necessity. I wonder how many people think that commenting is necessary and then in the next breath will whine about about how fat their fellow Americans have gotten.
Please get over yourself.
You obviously think computers and the internet are necessities since you are using both….
I have been to Ft Wilderness numerous times. I expect this will severely restrict the golf cart driving regulations, even though an adult was driving. Many, many campers let their 10 year-olds drive without supervision. They just go cruising all around at their will. Also, many do NOT have lights, and I think there is actually a reg that says you need lights if you drive at night.
Anyway, just another example of some putz ruining it for everyone, and putting a little girl in the hospital, too.
Dear Lord please be with this baby and help her to recover soon.
Stephanie put it best “Dear Lord please be with this baby and help her to recover soon.” Amen!!!
Best comment i read today…
Saturday too many fast drivers and beeping their horns. Both adults and teens. A lot of reckless driving for a busy night of people looking at the lights.
This driver might have been doing right but the other one was not.
Thank you Stephanie. Now is not the time to debate the whole golf cart issue.
I truly hope thie poor little girl is able to fully recover from her injuries.
I agree with Stephanie and John. Let us all pray this child recovers without too many scars. I’m sure the father will have enough scars to go around. God bless this family.
Do you know that people should not let any one drive those carts unless there is an adalt there. I hope that little girl is ok and and will not be parlize she is in gods hand now, and it it was my kids and that happend to them and some one said some thing bad about the cart then they need to get kick in the butts.
More hoodickey at Disney. How many “accidents” now have there been over the last two years?
Something tells me booze was involved. They must have been screwing around with almost deadly consequences
They should have a sign out “Adult only drivers and MUST have lights on at dusk.” These are very dangerous if they tip.
What else do you expect from middle class America. Disney caters to a certain demographic where these types of accidents are more common than the rest of the bell curve
Just by reading yor comment I find that the Disney Demographic you are referring to have quite a bit more intelligence than what you revealed in your comment.
If your god is so grand, and you want him/her to take care of this little girl now, why don’t you ask him why he let this happen in the first place???
…..and pray tell, which God do you chose to follow???? Obviously not one that gives you faith and direction! You sound like an idiot with very little in the way of common sense! Keep you lack of education to yourself! This family needs all the faith, hope, and belief that they can get right now…..Blessings to the child and her family!
I love when bible thumpers talk about lack of education. Do you believe in Science?
I don’t pray to any god, which proves my education above anything you can comprehend. I am not about to get in a religious battle on the internet and you have yet to answer my question, only bash someone else who disagrees with your “faith”. I will be patiently waiting your response to the original question.
Education?
God does not allow bad things to happen. He made man of free will. Would people seek out a relationship with him if he fixed everything in the world despite all the bad choices man makes. He wants people to come to him by choice and in faith. Man is of free will and therefore we must suffer the consequences of our choices and sometimes innocent people are hurt because of our disobedience toward God.
I don’t recall anyone stating their God was “grand”. Why make comments like you did when something like this has happened? There are other avenues for you to discuss your spiritual views, not here.
Hi DWTH, sorry that lady was so rude. I do believe in God but I respect your right to not. The question you ask is a really tough one. But I’ll take a stab at it.
I think it goes back the character of God and who He says He is according to the Bible. The Bible describes God as holy (Isaiah 6:3), righteous (Psalm 7:11), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and sovereign (Daniel 4:17-25). These attributes tell us the following about God: (1) God is capable of preventing evil, and (2) God desires to rid the universe of evil. So, if both of these are true, why does God allow evil?
Would you really want a God who controlled everyone’s actions and forced people to love him? That wouldn’t be so fair would it?
If a father gets addicted to drugs and spends all of his money on drugs, God would somehow have to miraculously provide both the food and the social needs of the children so that they would not have to be adversely affected by the evil of the parent.
In such a world, God would be like a bad parent who enables a wayward child’s destructive behavior. There would be no consequences for one’s actions, and as a result no one would learn integrity, purity, honor, responsibility, or self-control. There would be no “good consequences” for right behavior, no “bad consequences” for wrong behavior. What would people become except more deviant and sinful?
Thoughts?
Lets both of us hope & pray (according to how we believe) this young girl is healed.
DWTH—-IT WASN’T OUR GOD WHO DID THIS. GOD GAVE US ALL FREE WILL. IT WAS OUR GOD WHO KEPT THE CHILD FROM DYING INSTANTLY AND IT WAS OUR GOD WHO KEPT HER FATHER SAFE. IT’S ALSO OUR GOD WHO GIVES THE DR’S THE WISDOM THEY NEED TO HELP THIS CHILD. GOD ALLOWS MANY UNPLEASANT AND HURTFUL THINGS TO HAPPEN BUT WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW HE IS THE ONE WHO IS GETTING US THROUGH OUR SITUATIONS. I LOST A NEWBORN SON. WAS IT OUR GOD THAT KILLED HIM??? NO!!! IT WAS OUR GOD WHO SPARED HIM A LIFE OF PAIN AND SUFFERING ON THIS EARTH. MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP BLAMING GOD FOR EVERYTHING AND START THANKING HIM FOR ALL YOU HAVE INCLUDING YOUR OWN LIFE.
Yeah, let’s ask the Invisible Man Who Lives Up in The Sky for his help with this little girl. now that makes a lot of sense instead of making sure this sort of thing does not happen again with the rednecks in the campground.
Wow! Another intelligent comment.
Greenblue and DTWH:
Why don’t you please go and take a hike.
Why? Because you have no answer for the questions? I believe Greenblue was referring to regulating the use of the carts in the campground, and my original question, which, STILL has yet to be answered was why you don’t pray that things like this never happen, and why you don’t blame god when they do, you only ask for his help making it better? Hiding behind your faith is what keeps you in the dark, think outside the box, times change, and 2k years is just too much of the same thing.
Many people do pray to God to “watch over them and protect them”, unfortunately things like this do happen. At that time, we don’t squabble over who we pray to, but find comfort in doing so. How are we hiding behind our faith?
Ignoring the original question is hiding. Telling me why I am going to hell and not answering what I asked initially is hiding. Until you answer the question, dodging, ignoring, changing the subject, and mentioning god when you do it, is hiding behind your faith.
Disney needs to regulate the use of golf carts by imposing strict violations fines when people are caught driving without lights, under the influence, driving wrecklessly, or allowing children (for God’s sake) to be driving the carts AT ALL. Do you allow your children to drive your car idiots?
And yeah Stephanie-a lot of prayers for this little girl’s speedy, safe recovery are the priority at this moment. And Disney-get a move on this so it doesn’t happen again!
The switch for the lights should be the same switch that controls the ignition. If the cart is keyed on, the lights should come on automatically. That’s just common sense.
Second, I assume there are speed governors? If not, there ought to be. And it ought to be 10mph. Or set to whatever speed makes the cart impossible to tip over. Hello people! It’s not a golf course!
I am praying for the little girl.
But as I tell my 3rd graders name calling isn’t the solution to anything. Everyone has his/her own opinions. Feel free to agree or disagree just don’t name call.
Disney has policy and procedures in place and these rules are given to everyone renting or bringing a cart into the camp ground. Unfortunately some feel they are above those policies and drive a cart without lights and abuse the rules, and in this situation injured a little girl. Its people in general who have no respect for those around them and have no discipline of the kids that they allow to drive thise golf carts. Put all that behind you, and hope this little girl recovers from her injuries. As for the idiot who took an innocent “God” comment and took this unfortunate incident out of context. Obviously your one with no discipline and as reckless as the person who caused the incident.
Bless this child- i hope she recovers soon
Mysterygirlx in Nevada
dwth: I’ll say a prayer for both you and the victim tonite.
God Bless
Just wanted to enlighten a few on the concept of faith and life. It’s not about good or bad. About what is or isn’t allowed to happen. It’s about seeing the universe and time as much larger than what we can comprehend. Things happen to teach, guide, or influence our souls. To gain the wisdom that none of us, no matter how educated or scientifically incliened have. I don’t know why things happen, but one day I will. In the meantime, I will pray for the little girl, and any one who needs comfort through the hardships of the human experience…Also, the person who looks Down so far on middle class America, an extra special prayer. It must be terribly lonely far Atop your high horse.
DWTH… replied to you above! Thanks for your question!
So: !0pm or so at night, a FOUR year old (who should be in bed) and a dad joy riding around a golf course in the dark. Child endangerment? Negligence? Why hasn’t he been charged? And why haven’t all of you clamored for his arrest? Surely, if parents won’t take care of our little ones, we, as a society, must step in.
What story did yo read?
What really stumps me is how someone( mr. 60 dollar golf cart) who obviously dosent have much compassion for kids, could be entertained by a place dedicated to children.????maybe it’s because you’re very spiritually immature. You keep asking questions, you haven’t grown enough to understand.
Dear Lord Please pray for this family at there time of need. We may not understand now why this may have happened but we know you have a plan for all of us. Dear Lord we gather together and ask for healing physically for this little girl, we also ask for emotional healing on this little girls father. Lord we also pray that nobelievers come to you to understand the peace and healing you provide, we pray that they find and discover your greatness before its too late. Lord thank you for the many blessings in our lives.
I’ll bet there’s more to this incident than meets the eye.
Did the driver of the other golf cart stop when this accident happened?
Why was Wickt out and about at 10:30pm with a 4 yr. old? The child should have been in bed.
Was “swerving” to avoid hitting the other golf cart REALLY the only way to have avoided an accident?
It will be interesting to see what FHP’s investigation reveals.
Just mention God and the athiests are all over you like bees on honey. They don’t realize that they are pushing their athiest religion. YES, athiests it is also a religion. Grow up.
Umm, actually it’s a lack of religion.
Golf carts should have seat belts for small children…..So take the company to court and hope they can pay for that…….unless there are SAFETY warning labels that talk about small children and restrictions. Maybe there needs to be lights on the trails and separate lanes to drive on. It could be possible that the driver was having too much fun and flipped the cart out of stupidity….I drove many carts and it is very difficult to flip a cart unless you are going full speed and turn so sharp like youre trying to do a 180 skid or maybe the surface was very uneven at the point of turning. All I can say is that we all must take into consideration, things happen at unexpected times and think of worse case scenarios to prepare us for defensive actions. God Bless that family.
DWTH is one of those guys that complain complains, mind your manners DWTH man and if people have faith then let them voice their opinion….because one day you will be on your knees begging to god about something and this is about an accident which involves an injured child so stick to the topic an if you want to judge other people and god….take it to the streets with your 2 fists and learn to be a man.
And what if I am not on my knees begging? I believe when I die, my lights will go out, there will not be an after party. I won’t remember my life, and I won’t answer to anyone about how I lived it. I didn’t bring god into anything, praying for the little girl brought god into. I only asked why you pray for his help now, and not before. I didn’t make an argument out of it, the people who would rather bash me than answer the question did. And a big thank you to SRB who actually had a thought provoking response, rather than “you will burn in hell, just wait”.
I was there with my 3 children when that happened. I noticed that there were a lot of reckless drivers that night. My children and I walk everywhere when we are at the campground, and we are constantly dodging golfcarts. What bothers me most is that parents let little kids who are too small sit on the back, or without seatbelts and whip around like Nascar. I hope this little girl gets well soon, and that people learn to walk again.
I was there also and noticed a ton of reckless walkers. You would think that they own the streets. Constantly cutting and jumping in front of cars, buses and my cart . They run around like they are in a 10k race. What bothers me the most are parents who let there kids run loose in the streets or ride their bikes without adult supervision. I too hope that people learn to walk again supervise their children.
Seriously people? You’re asking why a 4 year old was out at 10:30 pm at night?! AT DISNEY??!! Parks stay open until 2:00 am… parades happen at 9:00 and 11:00 pm… Fireworks happen throughout the night depending on what park you are at. At least she was with her dad and NOT wandering around alone!
Maybe they were going back to their cabin or camper to go to sleep. Maybe she had been asleep and she woke up needing something so they were taking a ride to get it… I don’t know and it doesn’t matter!
I’ve been taking my kids to Disney for 15 years and I never kept a 4-year-old out that late. It’s sickening to see parents dragging exhausted, cranky kids around late at night so they can have “fun”. What morons. When it’s bedtime, GO BACK TO THE HOTEL OR CAMPSITE. Kids can see fireworks when they get a little older.
I hope the little girl will be ok. We’ve visited Ft. Wilderness before and, as always, it’s the morons who don’t respect the rules who ruin things for everyone else. Haven’t been there for a while, aren’t there still buses running in Ft. Wilderness that get you where you need to go?
In today’s print edition this story is buried on page 3 of the local section under “CRIME REPORTS”, with no mention of the accident being at Disney in the headline. Some things never change when it comes to local media keeping the mouse magical.
As it should be.
When the media stops keeping O’bama magical then they can stop keeping the mouse magical.
We were also at the campground that night, and yes, we have our own personal golf cart. There were a lot of people ignoring the rules that weekend, including that you MUST be a licensed driver in order to drive a golf cart on Disney property, whether you rent or you drive your own. There were a TON of carts out and about that night and way too many driving crazy. As for the little girl being out so late–the fireworks at Disney were at 9:30 that night so there were a LOT of small children out and about, it was Halloween for goodness sake. Stop trying to make such an issue out of things and let it be what it was, an unfortunate accident that could have happened anywhere.
Many times campers let their under age children have free -unsupervised- use of their own cart or the rental carts. The age is 18 years old and above and ALL must have in their possession a valid driver’s license. I have seen this many times and their wreckless use of carts at all hours of the night. The carts are not toys, folks. I also suspect youth have few respects for others property-the carts being used and others who also share the roads. When they get into a real car, watch out.
We were there 3 camp sites away from them and that father should be put in check not only was he drinking him and his buddies were playing bumper cars on the street right in front of my campsite 20 mins. before he flipped his cart.When I heard the ambulance I told my wife that I bet it was due to the morons in the red golf cart with a 93 on the side we drove to the next loop and there it was.There is alot of morons driving carts very reckless and very fast.We bring our cart with us every year and don’t ever drink while operating it.Alot of people are also responsable drivers but this year was aweful the speed limit is 20 some of those carts go 35 to 50 this year was the worst we have ever seen it and weve been going to halloween there for 11 years I hope fhp handles the father and i hope disney security shows more intrest in the rules