A relaxing day at the beach turned into a nightmare for one woman in Wildwood, New Jersey when she was run over by a police pickup truck while sunbathing. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, has left the community shocked and raised questions about beach safety protocols.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., an on-duty officer from the Wildwood Police Department was responding to a call near Rio Grande Avenue when his Ford F-150 pickup truck ran over a woman who was lying on a towel. Wildwood Police Chief Joseph Murphy told the Press of Atlantic City that the officer was usually assigned to beach patrol duties.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as beachgoers rushed to the woman’s aid. Rose Simone, who witnessed the incident, recounted, “They were the ones who sprung to action. A bunch of guys came around that were in the area, and they said, ‘We have to lift the truck, the front of the truck, to get her out.’”
The victim, whose identity has not been released, suffered severe injuries, including several broken ribs, three broken vertebrae, and an unspecified lung injury. Despite the severity of her injuries, medical professionals expect her to survive.
Another witness, Ryan Cortes, provided a disturbing account of the events leading up to the accident. He told Wildwood Video Archive, “The Wildwood police officer ran this lady over on the beach while he was swerving in and out of the beach, way too close.” Cortes added, “Citizens nearby had to scream at the truck to stop, and they had to gather to lift the vehicle off of the woman’s torso — it was truly horrible. No one understands why the cop was driving in a crowded beach so close to where everyone was!”
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of beachgoers and the protocols for police vehicles operating on the sand. Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano described the situation as “unfortunate” and stated that an investigation is ongoing.
Chief Murphy announced that the department’s internal affairs bureau would be looking into the incident. However, confusion arose when the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office was initially reported to be handling the investigation. A representative from the prosecutor’s office later clarified that they were not, in fact, investigating the accident and referred questions back to the Wildwood Police Department.
This is not the first incident involving Wildwood police vehicles this summer. Earlier in August, five people were injured in a golf cart crash during a Wildwood Police Department event. The accident occurred when a juvenile lost control of a golf cart being used to demonstrate the dangers of drunk driving.
As the investigation continues, many in the community are calling for a review of beach patrol procedures and the use of vehicles on crowded beaches. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about public safety and the balance between law enforcement presence and beachgoer well-being.
First responders at the scene provided immediate care to the injured woman. Simone described how they “put the wounded woman on a backboard and shuttled her to a waiting ambulance.” Following the rescue, investigators worked the scene for about an hour, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The woman who was struck had been wearing dark clothes and was sitting on a towel with a man before the incident occurred. According to Simone, the man was swimming when the truck ran over the woman. This detail has led to questions about visibility and the need for increased awareness when operating vehicles in beach areas.
The Wildwood Police Department has not released further details about what led to the accident or the identity of the officer involved. As the investigation progresses, the community awaits answers and hopes for a full recovery for the injured woman.