A dad and his five-year-old son were killed in a tragic crash after a vehicle swerved onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into their golf cart, the New York Post reported.
Michael Marlowe, 39, and his young son Bentley were the two victims in the horrific collision in North Carolina on Monday. Police took the driver of the car, 23-year-old Austin Ray Harmon, into custody after believing he was impaired when he swerved the vehicle into the wrong lane.
According to the police, Statesville, North Carolina native Marlowe was driving east in the golf cart when Harmon, who was coming west, crossed a center line and struck the cart with his 2009 Honda Accord.
More heartbreak for the Marlowe family as teen girl Jada also dies
According to State Trooper Jeffrey Swagger, "Golf carts are a fun recreational activity for folks to get out and go for a ride, but when that mixes with a collision with a vehicle, the end is often tragic."
Four other passengers in the golf cart were critically injured in the horrid crash. They were all taken to the hospital by helicopter. According to police, their ages were 26, 16, 13, and 2. Michael and his son Bentley died at the scene of the crash. There is more sad news for the family, though, as 13-year-old Jada Marlowe also died one week after the crash, according to WSOC-TV.
Harmon was not injured in the crash he caused. He now faces charges of driving while impaired, two counts of felony death by vehicle, and three counts of felony serious injury by vehicle. The court set Harmon's bond at $250,000. Additional charges are pending with Jada's death.
According to media reports, Marlowe was the owner of a local auto body shop in North Carolina. Friends described him to the news station as helpful and generous. JR White, a family friend, said in an interview that Marlowe once helped him with his vehicle, even when he did not have the money. White said Marlowe was just a good person to know.
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The community in Iredell County grieving
Anita Craver, Bentley's teacher, described the young child to WRAL.com as a "very sweet, sweet boy." She added that Bentley was just a child who got along well with his peers and brought just a little sunshine every day.
Loved ones gathered for a vigil held for the deceased father and son at their church on Tuesday. Sharon Chambers, a family friend, said in an interview that you could feel the heaviness in the community around everybody because of the deaths.
She told WBTV it was just an overwhelming heaviness of sorrow for them and their family. Two different GoFundMe fundraisers have been established to assist with the survivors' medical expenses due to the crash.
