A lifeguard's pickup truck struck and injured a 20-year-old woman on Wednesday afternoon at Half Moon Bay State Beach in California. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. at Francis Beach, a popular camping spot within the state park.
The woman was reportedly lying on the sand when the vehicle, driven by a seasonal California State Parks lifeguard, rolled over her. Witnesses described the scene as horrifying.
"We saw that they were digging out a woman who had gotten run over. It’s awful that she got run over… Hopefully it was just an accident," one witness told KTVU.
The lifeguard was allegedly distracted at the time of the accident. The injured woman was treated at the scene by emergency personnel and then transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, according to a California State Parks spokesperson.
No arrests have been made, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident.
Francis Beach is known for its campground, which accommodates both tent and RV campers, offering sites with electric hookups or dry camping.
This incident follows a previous tragedy at Cowell Ranch State Beach, located a few miles south of Francis Beach, where a 39-year-old man and an 8-year-old boy drowned after being swept away by ocean waves last year.