In a strange incident that resembles an episode The SimpsonsFive people were injured when a golf cart equipped to simulate the dangers of drunk driving spun out of control and veered off its intended route at a police fair. The Wildwood Police Department confirmed the news in a Facebook post.
The incident occurred Tuesday in Wildwood, New Jersey, during the National Night Out event, which is described as “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood solidarity” across America.
“As part of this event, and for the past two decades, we have operated a simulated, impaired driver low-speed golf cart course,” the police department said in a statement. “Unfortunately, during one of the course operations, a speed-controlled golf cart driven by a juvenile participant and a Wildwood Police Officer left the closed course and struck several individuals.”
It is not clear exactly how the car was rigged to mimic a drunk driver, but images on National Night Out's Facebook page include numerous photos of participants at the event over the years.
The people struck included four adults and a child. The extent of their injuries is unclear, but they were treated immediately by Wildwood firefighters on scene before the decision was made to transport all five victims to Cape Regional Medical Center in Middle Township.
As of Wednesday, the Wildwood police department had “three” people [victims] were treated and released, two are still in the hospital with their injuries.” It was not immediately clear whether those victims were still in the hospital as of Thursday. The department said the incident was still under investigation.
“This tragic incident has deeply saddened the entire Wildwood City Police Department, and we would like to offer our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the individuals who were injured,” the department said in a statement.