Elderly Man in Golf Cart Killed Crossing Highway East of Temple

An elderly man who used a golf cart to get around was killed Saturday when he drove his cart onto SH 53 and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

According to State Troopers, it happened ten miles east of Temple in the area known as Zabcikville. A 2015 Toyota Yaris driven by 25-year-old Whitney Wilburn was traveling eastbound when a golf cart wandered onto the road in front of the Toyota trying to cross the highway. The golf cart, driven by Herman Kuhnert, 92, was struck by the Toyota. resulting in serious injuries. After being taken to Baylor, Scott & White Hospital in Temple. Kuhnert died Tuesday morning. Wilburn was not injured. Troopers say there are no charges pending.

I want to impart a message in this post but it seems somewhat futile. The Toyota driver didn't do anything wrong. Anything I could say about the golf cart driver would be judgmental because it would smack of ageism. I don't know if he didn't hear the oncoming car or was unaware of his surroundings. He's gone now, it does zero good to ponder. Prayers for his family are more productive than lecturing.

We've all seen elderly and disabled folks using the streets with golf carts and motorized wheelchairs when they (and we) know they shouldn't. What are ya gonna do? As drivers, we need to be aware of our surroundings all the time. A tragedy may not be a driver's fault, but nobody wants it to happen in the first place. Let's all try.