A frightening incident unfolded Wednesday at Half Moon Bay Beach when a young woman was struck and run over by a pickup truck being driven by a lifeguard.
The accident occurred at about 3:45 p.m. at Francis Beach, the main section of Half Moon Bay State Beach. Authorities said the 20-year-old woman was lying on the sand when the vehicle drove over her.
“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, who was working as a seasonal employee, was reportedly distracted at the time of the incident. The woman was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
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The San Mateo Sheriff’s Office said no arrests have been made in the case. Investigators are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The woman was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to a local hospital…Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time,” California State Parks spokesperson Adeline Yee said.
The incident comes less than a year after a separate tragedy at nearby Cowell Ranch State Beach, located a few miles south of Francis Beach, where a 39-year-old man and an 8-year-old boy died after being swept away by ocean waves.
Francis Beach is a well-known destination for campers and beachgoers. According to California State Parks, the campground offers tent and RV camping, with sites available for both electric hookups and dry camping.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident.
