Fatal crash involving golf cart claims 3 lives in northwest Harris County
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - Three men were killed in a golf cart accident Sunday, after authorities say a drunk driver ran a stop sign and crashed into them. It happened at Greenhouse near Towne Lake Parkway in Cypress just before 3 a.m.
Harris County Sheriff’s deputies say 21-year-old Daniel Montana Rivera was drunk when he was driving a black Escalade SUV, ran a stop sign, and crashed into a golf cart, killing all three men inside.
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According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a woman and a small child were also in the SUV with Rivera during the crash. Gonzalez said all three suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
However, investigators say two of the men in the golf cart, Jacob Wnuk and Fraser Anderson, died on the scene. The third victim, Christopher Scandridge, was transported to the hospital, but later died. All three men range in age from 37 to 41-years-old.
Rivera has now been charged with three counts of felony murder. His bond has been set at $200,000 for each charge.
Court records say Rivera was driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, when he's accused of running a stop sign and causing the death of Wnuk, Anderson and Scandridge.
Neighbors in the tight-knit community say the golf carts should only be driven during the day.
"In my mind, I’ve always thought it was only a matter of time before something tragic happened. We don’t have a golf cart and part of the reason why, is because I don’t want myself or my kids, crossing the streets when cars don’t pay attention sometimes," Serena Hayden said.
"When you’re driving a golf cart, you should make sure you know the laws of the road right and where your golf cart should be. Should it be on the road or on the sidewalk, right?" said Sean Brown.
Eerily, this deadly crash happened on the same day a community in Galveston is remembering the lives of four people who were killed in a fatal golf cart accident last year by another drunk driver.
Families and loved ones gathered at the intersection of Avenue R and 33rd Street in Galveston on Saturday for a vigil honoring 49-year-old Felipe Bencantur, 25-year-old Destiny Uvalle, 14-year-old Brailyn Cantu, and 4-year-old Kaisyn Bencantur.
HCSO said the Cypress golf cart accident remains under investigation.