Sunbather Run Over By Beach Service Truck

Sunbather run over by beach service truck in Myrtle Beach

By Dawn Bryant & Claudia Lauer
dbryant@thesunnews.com

Posted: Saturday, May. 15, 2010

Myrtle Beach Police investigate the scene where a man who was sunbathing on the beach at 8th ave. N. was run over by a beach service truck and then transferred to Grand Strand Regional medical center. Photo by Steve Jessmore sjessmore@thesunnews.com

MYRTLE BEACH - A sunbather was run over by a beach service truck in Myrtle Beach on Friday and taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

The sunbather on the beach at Eighth Avenue North did not seem to have life-threatening injuries and was moving his legs and arms when he was taken from the scene, according to officer Paul Morrell with the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Lt. Doug Furlong with the Myrtle Beach police said the truck belonged to a contract lifeguard service, but did not know which one. As of Friday afternoon, no charges had been filed.

"We are sorting through everything right now," Morrell said. "He was sunbathing, and unfortunately one of the beach service trucks ran over him."

Beachgoers didn't see the incident, but quickly noticed the commotion that followed.

Debbie and John Preston of New Hampshire ran to help after they saw the man's feet sticking out from underneath the white pickup truck. "I was holding his hand. The guy was saying, 'I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe,'" Debbie Preston said.

The man, who Debbie Preston remembered seeing earlier sunbathing on a towel, was bleeding from the head, she said.

William Moon of Myrtle Beach also ran to help. "It happened so fast," he said. "He was moving and responding."

Emergency crews waited for a hydraulic lift to arrive to lift the vehicle off the man.

A Tennessee tourist was injured in August 2008 after a Myrtle Beach lifeguard ran her over with his truck while she was sunbathing face-down on the beach.

Kelly Brauner was hit by a Lack's Beach Service vehicle as the lifeguard turned to leave the beach, Myrtle Beach police said. Brauner, who was alert and talking after the incident, was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

No charges were filed against the lifeguard service.

In August 2004, a 22-year-old Virginia woman was run over by a North Strand Beach Services Jeep, sustaining minor burns from the muffler. No one was charged in that incident