22-year-old dies after enclosed golf cart plunges into canal, California cops say

A 22-year-old golf course employee died after crashing into a canal inside an enclosed golf cart, police in California told news outlets.

The maintenance golf cart became submerged on its side in a canal at the Terra Lago golf club in Indio on Monday, Jan. 17, the Riverside County Fire Department said.

The golf cart had a cage surrounding it, which is common to keep golf balls from hitting the driver, Indio Police public information officer Ben Guitron told the Palm Springs Desert Sun.

Fire officials said there was one victim inside the cart. Firefighters pulled the golf cart from the canal, and the man was dead inside, according to the fire department.

The Riverside County coroner later identified the man as 22-year-old Christian Capelouto. Police told KESQ the man worked at the golf club.

Police and the county coroner are investigating the incident. Authorities did not say what may have led to the crash.

Indio is about 23 miles southeast of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley.

This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 10:24 AM with the headline "22-year-old dies after enclosed golf cart plunges into canal, California cops say."