Authorities in Florida are looking into an unfortunate incident where an 84-year-old woman inadvertently struck a beachgoer with her truck while driving near Silver Beach Avenue.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office reported that the accident occurred just before 3 p.m. on a Wednesday when a 71-year-old woman from New York was sunbathing near her vehicle. She was on vacation with her husband in Daytona Beach.
While the woman enjoyed her time on the beach, the elderly driver from DeLeon Springs, approximately 25 miles from Daytona Beach, backed her Chevrolet Colorado out of its spot. She turned right towards the beach exit without noticing the sunbather, leading to the accident where the truck’s rear tire hit the woman, resulting in the truck running over her head.
Emergency services were called by the woman’s husband, who can be heard on the 911 call urgently informing dispatchers, “Hurry up! She ran over her head!” When asked about his wife’s condition, he said she was “talking but not alright.”
The injured woman was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening head injuries and is reportedly in stable condition.
According to deputies, the driver remained at the scene of the incident and fully cooperated with the investigation. She claimed she was unaware of any collision until a witness flagged her down. There were no signs of impairment detected.
This incident is still under investigation as officials gather more details about what transpired. Driving on Silver Beach is allowed, making it a unique spot where visitors can drive directly onto the sand. Out-of-town drivers must pay a $30 daily fee to access designated beach areas, with a typical speed limit set at 10 miles per hour.
