Person killed near front gate of Valhalla Golf Club was vendor employee, PGA says
The person who died after being struck by a shuttle bus early Friday morning near the front gate of Valhalla Golf Club ahead of round 2 of the PGA Championship was a vendor employee, according to the PGA of America.
"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones," the organization said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Officials have yet to identify the person.
Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said officers received a call to the 15500 block of Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. regarding a collision between a bus and a person, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY network.
A preliminary investigation found a man was struck by a shuttle bus traveling eastbound in the center lane dedicated to buses. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky is the site of this week's 2024 PGA Championship, which runs through Sunday.
PGA Championship 2024 live updates: Why Scottie Scheffler was arrested, tee times, forecast
Scottie Scheffler arrested, released from jail, tees off in round 2 of PGA Championship
In a separate incident, world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and booked into a Louisville jail Friday morning after a situation with police near the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club.
Scheffler, 27, is facing four criminal charges − including second degree assault on a police officer, which is a felony − after an encounter with a Louisville police officer who was directing traffic in front of the golf course, following the fatal collision in the area.
In a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the officer wrote that Scheffler disregarded his verbal instructions, accelerated his car forward and dragged the officer to the ground, causing pain and swelling to his left knee and wrist.
Scheffler said in a statement that he was "proceeding as directed" by officers and called the incident "a big misunderstanding."
Scottie Scheffler arrested: Scottie Scheffler arrested before start of Round 2 of the PGA Championship
"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do," he wrote in the statement. "I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today."
Scheffler was arrested just before 6:30 a.m. and booked into jail roughly an hour later, according to online records published by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections. He is also being charged with criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.
By 9:15 a.m., Scheffler had been released from jail and arrived at Valhalla. He teed off less than an hour later and birdied the first hole. (Tee times were delayed by almost 90 minutes Friday due to the traffic accident.)
Louisville police did not immediately reply to messages from USA TODAY Sports seeking comment and more information on the circumstances surrounding Scheffler's arrest. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Contributing: Gentry Estes & Tom Schad, USA TODAY; USA TODAY Network staff
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pedestrian killed at Valhalla entrance was employee, PGA says
