A beach survey contractor drove over the legs of a young woman who was lying on the beach Monday on the beach in Oak Island.
Town officials announced that Oak Island Public Safety units were dispatched to the public beach area between Keziah Street and Womble Street at 2:11 p.m. Monday in response to a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle driving on the beach.
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The 15-year-old female was evaluated on scene for possible injuries that were not life-threatening and was later transported to Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia for further evaluation.
Town officials said that because of the victim’s age she would not be identified.
No criminal charges will be filed against the driver, the town’s police department told Coastal Review.
The vehicle was a 2020 model GMC pickup truck owned by TI Coastal Services, a private contractor conducting a beach survey for engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol in preparation for an upcoming beach nourishment project. Officials said the survey began July 7 and was expected to take two weeks.
Town officials noted that there were erroneous reports on social media and other platforms that the accident was caused by the town’s Beach Safety Unit during its regular patrols.
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“Claims such as this can quickly cause the spread of misinformation, and lead to a dangerous lack of trust in first responders,” stated town officials in the announcement.
