RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - A 69-year-old man was seriously injured Friday, Feb. 27 when the golf cart he was driving was struck by a vehicle on Jackson Highway at Murieta Parkway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred at approximately 7:13 p.m.

Capt. Mark Nunez, public information officer for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, said the incident was initially reported as a walk-up medical aid at Station 59. The individual reported a vehicle accident at Jackson Highway and Murieta Parkway.

Fire crews responded to the intersection and located one patient, Nunez said. He did not have information on the patient's gender. The patient was transported to the hospital, Code 3 by Medic 59, with moderate to severe injuries.

CHP Sgt. Ben Ashby said the golf cart driver is a 69-year-old man from Sloughhouse. The driver of the van was identified as a 19-year-old man from Jackson.

Ashby said the department’s incident log and face sheet did not include information about the cause of the collision or who was at fault. He added that a box was checked, indicating the golf cart driver was “under the influence,” but neither the log nor the face sheet indicated that an arrest had been made. The full report had not yet been completed as of March 2.

The online CHP incident report said the golf cart driver was transported to Kaiser South. The River Valley Times was unable to obtain a condition report from Kaiser’s public affairs office as of March 2.

Witness Accounts

Multiple residents posted about the crash on social media shortly after it occurred. Some described the incident as a red-light violation involving the eastbound Ford van. The online CHP incident report initially referenced a possible hit-and-run, but subsequent entries indicated the vehicle had pulled into a nearby parking lot.

Rancho Murieta resident Jay Triplett said he was inside the Chevron station when he heard the collision.

“There was no skid mark. I couldn’t see any skid marks, so the person definitely ran a red light,” Triplett said.

Triplett said he went to check on the van’s driver after seeing others assisting the golf cart driver. The van had come to rest in front of El Dorado Savings Bank.

Triplett said he asked the young driver if he was drunk, and the driver responded that he was not. He said the driver told him he was traveling about 50 mph.

“No way that was 50 mph,” Triplett said.

Triplett also said the driver told him he did not have a driver’s license but had planned to obtain a permit.

Another resident reported seeing a CHP officer conduct a field sobriety test on the van driver. Triplett said he did not witness that.

Ongoing Concerns

The crash prompted renewed discussion among residents about traffic speeds along Jackson Highway through Rancho Murieta.

The CHP investigation remains ongoing.