WALLACE — A 58-year-old San Jose woman died in a freak accident Friday when she tumbled out of a golf cart driven by an “intoxicated” companion and landed on the broken shards of two wine glasses she had been holding, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The CHP identified the woman as Debra Bedard. The driver of the E-Z-GO golf cart, Richard Clarke, 57, also of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence.
A preliminary investigation indicated Bedard was “the cause of the collision” and that “the driver’s actions did not cause the collision or fatal injuries,” said CHP Officer Rebecca Myers.
The accident occurred at 11:15 p.m. Friday in a private olive orchard Bedard and Clarke owned near Camanche Parkway South and Limestone Drive in the town of Wallace, located about 47 miles southeast of Sacramento, Myers said.
Clarke was driving “while intoxicated” and made a left turn as he approached the end of the orchard, according to the CHP.
Bedard was unable to “stabilize herself” and tumbled out of the golf cart, according to the CHP. Two wine glasses she was holding shattered and she landed on the shards. She died of her injuries at the scene.
Bedard and Clarke spent 17 years together and were “each other’s everything,” said Debra Bedard’s son, Steve Bedard.
“They would often ride through the orchard just to check things out and enjoy the serenity of the property,” he said. “Having been on the property many times, I completely understand how this happened. It was not an irresponsible act but just the worst kind of tragedy.”
Steve Bedard said his mother and Clarke had a glass of wine that night, but Clarke passed a field sobriety test.
“I would never want anyone to think of Richard as an irresponsible man,” Steve Bedard said. “He is one of the most together, responsible men with the strongest of character.”
Myers said the CHP does not release information about field sobriety or blood alcohol content tests.
“We wouldn’t have arrested him if we did not feel he was under the influence and FSTs are part of that determination,” she said.
