SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Police are examining speed, driver inattention and horseplay as possible causes of the fatal golf cart accident Wednesday at The Links at Outlook.
“Every aspect will be looked at, including the possibility of horseplay,” South Berwick Police Chief Dana Lajoie said Thursday.
Eric S. Sullivan, 27, of Stoughton, Mass., was a passenger in the golf cart when it left the paved cart path on the 14th hole. The driver then overcorrected and swerved several times before the cart flipped and rolled several times, Lajoie said. The accident occurred at about 3 p.m.
Sullivan was ejected from the cart, which then rolled over him. He sustained massive head trauma and died on the course. The driver, who was not identified, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Blood was taken from Sullivan and the driver to test for alcohol, which is required under Maine law in fatalities involving a motorized vehicle. The results of those tests likely won’t be available until next week. Lajoie said there is no indication that alcohol was a factor.
Attempts to reach John Flynn and other club officials were not successful Thursday. However, the Flynn family issued a statement on The Links at Outlook Facebook page describing the accident as “a terrible and unfortunate tragedy.”
“The thoughts and prayers of the Flynn Family and everyone at The Links at Outlook are with the family and friends of Eric Sullivan,” the statement said. “We will continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into this heartbreaking accident and await to hear from the authorities with the details behind what happened.”
Sullivan was part of a 13-person group in the area for a golf outing at The Outlook, an 18-hole course off Route 4. Lajoie said the entire group has been interviewed as part of the investigation.
An accident reconstruction team from the Maine Warden Service responded to the scene Wednesday. Its final report, which is not expected for some time, will determine where the vehicle left the cart path, how many times it rolled and other factors.
Investigators also will determine whether the golf cart, which was bought new about a year ago, was functioning properly at the time of the accident.
Distributed by MCT Information Services