IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — After three people were killed and three more were seriously hurt in a golf cart crash in Iredell County, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol shared they were not legally allowed to drive the cart in that area.
Troopers said they were called just before 10 p.m. on June 13 to Fort Dobbs Road near Dobbs Drive, north of Statesville. They said a Honda Accord had crossed the centerline and hit a golf cart heading in the opposite direction.
Investigators said the golf cart’s driver, Michael Shane Marlowe, 39, and his 5-year-old son, Bentley Marlowe, died in the crash. Jada Marlowe, 13, of Statesville died one week later.
Three other passengers, ages 26, 16 and 2, were seriously hurt and were flown to hospitals in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, troopers said.
The driver of the Honda, Austin Ray Harmon, 23, of Statesville, was not hurt. He was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, two counts of felony death by vehicle and three counts of felony serious injury by vehicle. Troopers later added Harmon was accused of being drunk.
On Tuesday, troopers said Iredell County has no ordinance that lets people use golf carts on Fort Dobbs Road, and therefore, it’s not legal to drive one in that area.
Harmon is appeared in court Tuesday, where his case was continued until July 22.
GoFundMe told Channel 9 that since the accident, two family friends created a page to help the family and in just one day, the fundraisers collectively raised nearly $30,000 for the family.
You can visit the GofundMe pages here and here.
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