Beach driving incident raises fresh safety concerns

A recent crash on a Volusia County beach is drawing renewed attention to the risks that come with the county’s beach-driving zones, an issue that matters in New Smyrna Beach where vehicles and pedestrians also share stretches of sand. According to reporting from ClickOrlando, a woman was seriously injured after being run over by a pickup truck while sunbathing in a designated driving lane in Ormond Beach.

Authorities said the crash happened in March, but the details were highlighted publicly this week as the woman continues to recover. A 911 caller reported that a woman had been run over on the beach. Deputies later described serious injuries, including tire marks on the victim’s torso and abdomen. She was taken to a hospital and, according to the report, remains in recovery months later.

What investigators said happened

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the woman was lying in an area where vehicles are allowed to drive. On Volusia beaches, the driving lane can blend in visually with the rest of the shoreline, creating a hazard for visitors who may not realize they are in an active traffic area. Investigators said the driver of a Chevy Silverado made an illegal turn and struck the woman.

Chitwood also said the driver stayed at the scene and that the investigation found he was not wearing his glasses at the time. The driver was cited for traffic violations. The report did not indicate criminal charges beyond those citations.

Why it matters in New Smyrna Beach

For New Smyrna Beach residents and visitors, the incident is a reminder that beach driving remains a practical safety issue across Volusia County. While the crash occurred in Ormond Beach, the same basic conditions exist farther south: pedestrians, sunbathers, cyclists and drivers often occupy the same broad stretch of sand, especially during busy weather and holiday periods.

County officials have indicated that beach driving is expected to continue, making awareness especially important. Sheriff Chitwood urged both drivers and pedestrians to stay alert, keep speeds low and pay close attention to surroundings. His advice included driving no faster than 10 mph, keeping windows down and maintaining constant awareness.

Safety takeaway for beachgoers

The practical lesson for New Smyrna Beach readers is straightforward: before setting up chairs, towels or coolers, make sure you are outside any marked or customary vehicle lane. Drivers, meanwhile, should treat the beach as a shared roadway with limited visibility, heavy foot traffic and little margin for error.

With warm-weather beach use increasing, this incident serves as a stark warning. Even when a crash happens elsewhere in the county, the safety message carries directly to New Smyrna Beach: know where the driving lane is, stay out of it on foot, and slow down behind the wheel.