Local

Teen seriously injured after golf cart slams into tree

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — No. 15 Matthew Parks, one of the best defensive players in North Lincoln High School football team, was seriously injured after a day in the snow with friends turned tragic.

His family moved to their new home a few weeks ago deep in the woods on Lippard Creek Lane.

Parks, 16, and friends were riding a golf cart, the Gator, Sunday afternoon.

"They were out riding in the snow, and my son evidently hit a tree,” the caller told emergency dispatch. “It's down at the creek."

Parks' friends used their cellphones to call his parent’s house, which was far from the accident scene.

He had to be airlifted to the hospital.

"Her husband is down with him, said that he can't feel anything below his waist," dispatch could be heard saying in a 911 call.

"Just really hard hit for all of us in this area.," teammate Landon Casstevens, who lives up the street, said.

"He is a real nice guy,” Casstevens said. “Really fun to be around."

Parks, like all of the youth in the community, was out enjoying the snow.

"We have a lot of steep hills,” Casstevens said. “Just watch out for the trees."