Again? Really??

Beach Patrol truck strikes beachgoer By MARK HARPER, STAFF WRITER
July 31, 2011 1:19 PM Posted in: News Tagged:Beach Patrol , crash

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- An adult female was injured this morning when a Beach Patrol lifeguard making a U-turn struck her with his truck.

The woman, whose name has not yet been released by authorities, was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach after the crash, said Sgt. Daniel Caulk of the Florida Highway Patrol. She was in stable condition.

Lifeguard Thomas Moderie, 22, was driving a Beach Patrol pickup truck north in the beach lanes just north of Dunlawton Avenue when a pedestrian approached him and mentioned that broken glass had remained at the scene of a previous accident, Caulk said. Moderie made the turn to head south when he struck the woman, lying in the sand, in her "head area," Caulk said.

"From what we can tell, he did a safe turn while he was attempting to head south," Caulk said.

Marisa Caro, of Daytona Beach, was sunning herself nearby when she heard screams.

"Crazy, crazy," she said. "(The driver) was a young kid. He was very nervous. He called immediately (for help)."

Any decision on charging the driver is pending further investigation, Caulk said.

The accident occurred at 10 a.m., Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said.

This was at least the sixth time since 2003 that a Beach Patrol vehicle was involved in an accident on the beach.

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