Wythe man dies in golf cart accident

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

A 45-year-old Wytheville man died Sunday afternoon after a golf cart rolled over his head, police said. Marvin Earl “Bud” Smith Jr. was apparently putting air into the left rear tire when the accident occurred around 3:26 p.m. at a residence on Crockett’s Cove Road.
According to Wythe County Sheriff Doug King, Smith was behind the golf cart on a steep incline. The victim was attempting to put air in a tire when the vehicle rolled backward on him.
King said witnesses moved the golf cart and attempted to administer CPR to Smith who suffered a head trauma and asphyxiation. A representative from the medical examiner’s office also responded to the scene, the sheriff noted.
The Wythe County Rescue Squad transported Smith to Wythe County Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Smith was employed by Wythe Sheet Metal.
Based on a recent report from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, there were an estimated 147,696 golf cart-related injuries in the U.S. from 1990 to 2006. The number of golf cart-related injuries increased steadily each year of the study with an increase of 132.3 percent over the 17-year study period.
In an unrelated case, a Max Meadows man has been charged in connection with the theft of items from a tractor-trailer parked at a towing yard. Eric S. Repass, 36, is charged with two counts of grand larceny and could face additional charges.
Sheriff King said the incident was reported Monday. He noted various parts, valued at $2,300, were taken from the vehicle at Hopkins Towing on Chapman Road.
Another suspect is being sought in the incident, the sheriff said. Investigation continues.
The Sheriff’s Office also is investigating a break-in and theft of jewelry from a residence on High Bridge Road off Grayson Turnpike. The incident occurred between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Sheriff King reported the homeowner returned to find items out of place and a window broken in the back door. He said an estimated $7,000 in jewelry, including watches, necklaces, gold and diamond rings and two George Wythe High School class rings were missing.
A pillowcase and a comforter were missing, too, the sheriff stated.
In an unrelated case, a 40-year-old Kingsport, Tenn., man voluntarily surrendered to the sheriff’s office Monday. James B. Burke Jr.  has been determined to be a fugitive from North Carolina and Tennessee.
According to King, Tennessee authorities are preparing to extradite Burke.
A Sunday fight at the Greyhound bus station at Fort Chiswell resulted in the arrest of a fugitive wanted in Kentucky and Indiana. Peter Bostick, 42, of Wurtland, Ky., faces failure to pay child support charges in Kentucky and five counts of felony fraud in Indiana.
King said deputies were called to the bus station regarding a fight. Two passengers, he noted, were involved in the scuffle – one which was Bostick.
A background check revealed that Bostick was wanted in the two states. He will be extradited to answer charges in Kentucky and Indiana.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)