Andy Kostka

Golfweek

A 6-year-old girl from Orem, Utah, died after she was struck in the back of the head by a golf ball Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the girl’s father accidentally hit her on the base of her neck with an errant tee shot at the Links at Sleepy Ridge. The girl was sitting in a golf cart about 20 feet away from where her father teed off, and a 911 call came in around 10:25 a.m., Orem Police Lt. Trent Colledge told KSL.

According to Colledge, the golf cart was to her father’s left. The girl was transported to a local hospital and later flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she died Monday night, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Steven Marett, the head golf professional at Sleepy Ridge, told KSL he had seen people hit by golf balls at the course before but hadn’t seen a serious injury at the course before.

“This is absolutely unimaginable, and it’s been devastating to see it at the course and in the community,” Marett said.

“It’s an extremely tragic accident,” Colledge told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I can’t imagine what that father is going through.”