A North Port man landed in jail after his wife fell out of the golf cart he was driving, hitting her head on the pavement. Now he’s facing felony DUI charges.
James R. Prante, 65, lives on Creek Nine Drive. Police say he was behind the wheel Sunday night around 8 p.m. near the intersection of Creek Nine and Waterview. His wife, Margaret P. Garven, was riding with him when she suddenly fell out, hit her head, and lost consciousness.
Prante called 911 himself. The police report said he slurred his speech during the call.
When officers got there, they found Prante near his 2021 Club Car golf cart. He told them he and his wife had been “partying at the club since noon” before heading home.
Paramedics flew Garven to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for trauma care.
Prante agreed to a field sobriety test. Officers observed he struggled to keep his balance, slurred his speech, and noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. The breathalyzer showed blood-alcohol content of .197% and .194% which is well over twice Florida’s legal limit.
Police charged Prante with DUI causing serious bodily injury, which is a third-degree felony. He spent the night in the Sarasota County Jail and got out Monday after posting a $500 bond. The court set his next court date for April 4.
