A woman tragically lost her life on a South Carolina beach after being hit by a police vehicle near Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach.
The incident occurred as a Horry County Police Department vehicle drove onto the sand from Nash Street and struck the woman while she was facing east.
Beachgoers tried to free the woman from underneath the truck, but sadly she succumbed to her injuries after being taken to Grand Strand Medical Center.
Witnesses described the horrific scene, with one beachgoer, Amanda Bilodeau, recalling the piercing scream that alerted them to the accident.
Despite efforts from bystanders, including one named Dennis Miller, to lift the car off the woman, she tragically passed away later in the hospital.
The victim’s identity has not been released out of respect for her family, but the Horry County Police Department officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The community is deeply saddened by the tragedy, with many expressing frustration and sorrow over the accident.
This is not the first such incident on Horry County’s beaches, as a similar tragedy occurred in 2020 when a person was struck by a patrol vehicle in Garden City south of Myrtle Beach.
The HCPD is fully cooperating with all investigations to ensure a thorough review of the incident without any delays.