Police: Drunken golf cart driver runs over Peachtree City mom

PEACHTREE CITY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

What was supposed to be a relaxing Memorial Day weekend turned into a nightmare for Tracy Self.

On Saturday, Self and her husband, Mike, were leaving a concert at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater when she was run over by a golf cart.

"I turned to my right and I saw Tracy's leg and it was terrible," said Mike. "I knew she needed me. She was screaming, she was in so much pain."

According to a report by Peachtree City police, the driver of the golf cart, William Helm, "continued to proceed into the lower parking lot, dragging Mrs. Self a short distance."

Witnesses said the "male driver continued to pull away until a passerby stopped him and pulled the key from the ignition of his cart… the driver then attempted to drive away again until he noticed there were no keys in the ignition," the reported stated.

Self suffered a broken leg and had to have surgery to fix the two broken bones. Until Monday night, Self was on a ventilator and was unable to talk. She was using notebook paper to scribble information for her husband.

"She asked for a chapstick," Mike Self said. "It was tough seeing her like that because I know how sweet my wife is, how good-hearted she is."

CBS Atlanta News went to Helm's home to ask him about the DUI charges. The garage door was open, and the golf cart that hit Self was visible inside. But upon knocking on the door, a man quickly shut the garage door and locked himself inside the home.

According to the report, Helm refused to take a field sobriety test but failed the other standardized field sobriety exercises, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus, which is where a driver is asked to walk and turn and then stand on one leg.

Mike Self said he owns a golf cart himself and will continue to enjoy the trails, but he had a clear message for drunken golf cart drivers.

"We just ask that everyone, whether you are in Peachtree City, or not. Be careful when you are out there. Whether you drive in your car or golf cart, you have to remember responsibility, responsibility, responsibility, and please don't drive and drink," he said.

Peachtree City police made 24 arrests for golf cart DUIs from 2010 to 2012. There have been fatalities on the cart paths because of other accidents.