A woman from Georgia has been charged with driving under the influence after a tragic incident in Florida where her husband, who had also been drinking, fell off a golf cart and suffered a fatal head injury.
According to police in Port St. Lucie, the event occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on a Saturday while Cynthia Mackin, aged 62, and Daniel Mackin, aged 59, were playing golf at Astor Creek Golf & Country Club, as reported by WPTV. Cynthia was steering the golf cart along the sidewalk, and Daniel, who was standing at the back, lost his balance and fell as the cart was in motion.
Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk commented, “Our driver had been drinking alcohol, and the passenger had consumed even more. It was just an unsafe situation overall.”
Daniel Mackin was rushed to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he died.
“It’s a tragic situation her husband passed,” Niemczyk said. “ Unfortunately, it was necessary to make the arrest at that time, because her BAC had to be captured, and a breathalyzer had to be performed.”
Mackin’s BAC was .09, just above the legal limit of .08, Law&Crime said.
Mackin was charged with DUI and later released on a $500 bail, according to WPTV.
“You have to have a designated driver,” Niemczyk said. “The person that’s going to be operating the golf cart has to be sober, and they have to be aware and they’re responsible for their passenger.”
Niemczyk said police were still investigating the incident and discussing it with the state attorney’s office to see if other charges are warranted.
The Mackins were from Greensboro, Georgia. Police did not say why they were in Florida.
Former Major League Baseball player Justis Logan Morrison, 37, was also arrested during the incident after he interfered and refused police instructions to stand back. Morrison, who played with six teams between 2010 and 2020, was charged with obstruction and also released on a $500 bail.
