Man drives golf cart off cliff

A 65-year-old Irvine man was killed in front of three friends Tuesday morning when he rode his golf cart over a 75-foot-high cliff and crashed down onto Old Highway 395, authorities said.

The crash happened at 10 a.m. at the Pala Mesa Resort golf course north of Highway 76, said California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Kerns. Authorities got the first 911 calls just four minutes later.

"It's a sheer drop of 75 feet with rock outcroppings, a sheer rock face," Kerns said. "He rode down on the golf cart most of the way until it overturned near the bottom part."

North County Fire Protection District spokesman John Buchanan said that firefighters tried to administer lifesaving efforts, but the man was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was hurt.

The medical examiner's officer said the man was identified as Edwin Payne, who is survived by his wife, Clara Payne, he said.

Kerns said the horrific scene happened in front of Payne's former co-workers. Payne had joined the group of three men, who were in town for an industry conference. All worked in the real estate industry.

Full Story: NC TIMES.COM

Car plunges 50 feet over post office railing

A white Mercedes plunged more than 50 feet from an elevated traffic ramp at Columbia’s main post office on Assembly Street this morning, killing the driver.

Witnesses said the car was traveling backward at a high rate of speed when it went through metal fencing at about 10:15 a.m., said Columbia police Sgt. Florence McCants.

The driver was 84-year-old Columbia resident Helen Zalantis, according to Richland County coroner Gary Watts. She was the sole occupant of the car, a 1995 white E300 Mercedes, McCants said.

Full Story: THE STATE . COM