A routine night at an Arkansas country club turned deadly when a casino executive was crushed beneath an overturned golf cart in a shocking accident that left witnesses scrambling to save his life.
James “Jim” Burns, the chief financial officer of Saracen Casino Resort, was fatally injured just before midnight on January 8 at Pine Bluff Country Club, according to authorities and local reports.
Police were called to the golf course after reports of an overturned cart. A nearby resident told officers they looked out their back window after noticing flashing red lights on the course and rushed toward the scene — only to find Burns pinned underneath the heavy vehicle.
The witness immediately began CPR, performing lifesaving efforts for several minutes until first responders arrived. Burns was rushed to a nearby hospital later that night, but despite emergency treatment, he died the following day.
Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley confirmed Burns’ death and said his body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock for an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death. Authorities say the investigation into how the cart overturned is still ongoing.
Burns, 58, joined Saracen Casino Resort in 2020 and served as a top executive at one of Arkansas’ most prominent gaming destinations. Before that, he held leadership roles in the gaming industry and operated his own financial consulting firm for nearly 20 years. He was a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
He leaves behind his wife, Lisa, five children, and four grandchildren.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Pine Bluff Country Club released an emotional statement mourning Burns’ sudden and violent death.
“One of our dear friends passed away recently in a tragic accident here at the club,” the organization wrote, calling Burns a man whose kindness and infectious personality left a lasting impact in a short time.
Neither Saracen Casino Resort nor the Pine Bluff Police Department has released further details as questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the deadly rollover.
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