The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is renewing its plea for low-speed vehicle safety after two serious crashes within 24 hours left several people hospitalized, including a juvenile with severe head injuries and another victim who had to be life-flighted.
In a statement posted Thursday, the sheriff’s office said the first crash occurred just after midnight Wednesday near Dogwood Street, when a juvenile was ejected from an LSV after it struck a tree. The juvenile, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was transported with severe head injuries.
Later the same day, a second LSV carrying five occupants rolled onto its side. According to the sheriff’s office, one of the adults inside was holding a child in their arms, and no car seat was installed in the vehicle. All five occupants were transported to a hospital, and one was life-flighted.
The sheriff’s office said both crashes were preventable and pointed to extensive education efforts the agency has already undertaken.
“We’ve posted the laws. We’ve made videos. We’ve pushed safety campaigns. We’ve had news coverage. We’ve put stickers on every LSV in Walton County. We’ve even built a dedicated webpage spelling out EXACTLY how to operate these vehicles legally and safely,” the agency said in its statement. “Yet here we are, again.”
Officials directed residents and visitors to waltonso.org/lsv, where the agency has outlined how to operate low-speed vehicles legally and safely.
The sheriff’s office aimed part of its message directly at visitors to the county.
“If you’re visiting our county and choosing to ignore the rules, the signage, and basic common sense, you’re putting your family and everyone else at risk,” the statement said.
The agency emphasized that low-speed vehicles are not recreational equipment and are not built to carry unrestrained passengers.
“Low-speed vehicles are not toys. They are not golf carts. They are not bumper cars. And they’re absolutely NOT designed to haul around unrestrained passengers,” the sheriff’s office said.
The agency closed its message with a direct appeal.
“Please, for your safety and ours, drive these vehicles responsibly. Or don’t use them at all. We are literally begging,” the statement said.
