Biggest Risk at America’s Beaches is Getting Run Over by Social Distancing Beach Patrols

So far, with one weekend in the books, the biggest risk to people going to America’s newly opened, COVID-19 enforced beaches appears to be the roving patrols, and not the virus.  This week, two teens in New Jersey and a 67-year-old man in Florida were run over by beach patrols while lying on the beach. In Ship Bottom, New Jersey, A 22-year-old lifeguard from Barnegat ran over two teenage girls who were laying out on the beach in Ship Bottom.  The girls, ages 14 and 15 were rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.  Both have since been released to their parents.  The pair was on a beach, which officials say remains closed to anyone but local residents and claim the girls were from Pennsylvania.

The incident happened around 1 pm on Wednesday near the 26th street beach entrance.  The lifeguard was charged with reckless driving. The Ship Bottom Beach Patrol station is nearby where the incident occurred.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department is reporting in Florida that Deputy Natasha Hindman was in fine condition after driving over a man lying on the beach during a social distancing patrol.   The incident happened when  Hindman, 27, a two-year veteran of the department was patrolling the beach, enforcing social distancing rules when she ran over the 66-year-old man who was sunbathing on the beach.

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

Sheriff Reports Deputy Suffered No Injuries After Running Over Beachgoers on Social Distancing Patrol

Lifeguard Runs Over Two Girls Tanning On Beach