Kid at Wheel—Impairment Stunt Mows Into Crowd

Golf cart with wet windshield and tire in focus — Photo: prod.SKL / Shutterstock

Lawsuit alleges Wildwood police let an 11-year-old drive a DUI-simulation golf cart that plowed into bystanders, injuring five people.

Story Snapshot

Plaintiffs sue Wildwood, police department, and a named officer over injuries tied to a 2024 National Night Out demo.
Reports say an 11-year-old wore “impairment” goggles, hit the accelerator, and lost control, striking a crowd.
Police say the low-speed golf cart course has run for years; they called the crash “disconcerting”.
Case centers on duty, supervision, and whether the city created an avoidable hazard in a public setting.

What The Lawsuit Says Happened In Wildwood

Plaintiffs say the City of Wildwood, its police department, and Officer Jonathan Goraj acted negligently at the August 6, 2024 National Night Out event. The complaint alleges police allowed an 11-year-old to operate a low-speed golf cart during a simulated impaired driving exercise. Reports say the child wore impairment goggles, pressed the pedal, lost control, and hit several people standing nearby. Five bystanders suffered injuries, according to multiple outlets that reviewed the filing and police statements.

Reports name Officer Jonathan Goraj as the passenger during the demonstration, with the juvenile at the wheel. The suit claims the setup put an untrained minor in control of a vehicle in a crowded park. The filing argues the police created a foreseeable risk by combining a child driver, “impairment” goggles, and spectators near the course. Plaintiffs seek damages for medical costs and pain from the crash, and they place responsibility on the city and its police leadership for allowing the activity.

How Police Described The Event And Their Track Record

Wildwood police said the course was a “simulated impaired operator low speed golf cart” demonstration the department has run for years during National Night Out. They said the crash was “disconcerting” to the force and offered thoughts and prayers to those hurt. Police stated a juvenile and an officer were on the cart when it left the enclosed course and struck several adults and one youth. Those facts match early coverage after the incident.

Local and regional reporting from the night of the crash also said five people were hurt. Coverage noted the cart left the designated track and entered the crowd area during the community program. Authorities asked witnesses to contact the Wildwood Police Department or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office with information. Those details framed the immediate response phase while investigators reviewed what went wrong at the public event.

The Legal Stakes: Duty, Supervision, And Municipal Risk

The core legal question is whether the city created a dangerous condition by letting a child operate a vehicle under simulated impairment near bystanders. New Jersey cases hold that public entities can face liability when they create or allow a dangerous condition on public property that foreseeably harms people. Plaintiffs will argue the hazard was obvious and preventable. The city may answer that the course was enclosed, long-standing, and run by trained officers in a community safety setting.

Courts often weigh foreseeability and control. Here, the demonstration mixed a young driver, “impairment” effects, and a nearby audience. Plaintiffs say that crossed a clear safety line. The municipality will likely raise defenses tied to public-entity standards and discretionary choices, and point to years of incident-free use. The outcome may turn on simple facts: barriers used, course layout, officer instructions, speed limiters, and how close spectators stood to the driving line that night.

Why This Matters For Families And Taxpayers

Parents expect police events to teach safety, not send people to the hospital. When a city blends kids, a vehicle, and simulated impairment, it must plan for the worst, not hope for the best. Clear rules, physical barriers, trained adult drivers, and distance from crowds are basic steps. If those steps were missing or weak, the burden can fall on victims and taxpayers. Strong local oversight protects both the public and good officers who serve with care.

#New A local man and out-of-state family are suing Wildwood, New Jersey, claiming they were injured when a child participating in a drunk driving simulator at National Night Out crashed into several bystanders. https://t.co/AoTbxUrirb

— Eric Conklin (@njdotconk) September 8, 2026

Conservatives want common-sense safety and limited risk with public funds. Communities can keep National Night Out strong by tightening demos, not canceling them. Put adults at the wheel. Keep children out of control seats during hazard simulations. Use barriers that stop a cart cold. Post clear stand-off zones. These moves respect family safety, protect city budgets, and keep trust in law enforcement high—without giving ground to trial lawyers or to reckless setups that invite harm.