Dog runs over 4-year-old with golf cart at barbecue, Michigan officials say

A runaway golf cart — inadvertently propelled by a dog — ran over a 4-year-old girl in Michigan, firefighters say.

The bizarre accident occurred at an Aug. 4 city-run barbecue in Westland, according to a news release from the local fire department.

At one point during the event, Bella, the firefighters’ arson dog, jumped from her seat on a fire department golf cart to the floor.

While on the cart floor, Bella lay on the accelerator, rocketing the vehicle forward, according to the release.

Firefighters then said they rushed after the driverless cart to steer it away from people.

“Unfortunately before the firefighters could bring the cart to a stop and remove the key from the vehicle, it struck a 4-year-old girl and the passenger side front tire ran over her left leg,” firefighters said.

Though “visibly shaken,” the girl appeared uninjured, and her mother decided not to have her taken to a hospital.

“Fortunately, the child was back to eating her popcorn within minutes of the incident,” firefighters said, “and within 10 minutes of the incident was back to jumping in the fire department bounce house.”

Westland is about 30 miles west of Detroit.

This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 9:35 AM with the headline "Dog runs over 4-year-old with golf cart at barbecue, Michigan officials say."