DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Attorney John Phillips represents the family of Sierra Trumble, an 18-year-old who was injured when a beach patrol vehicle struck her and a friend on Memorial Day.
Trumble and her friend were sunbathing on Daytona Beach when the incident occurred.
According to a spokesperson for Volusia County Beach Safety, Sgt. Arthur Gendreau, along with a colleague parked nearby for a conversation.
When Gendreau drove away, he hit the two teens.
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“It ran over my client Sierra’s face and her leg,” Phillips said. “It changed the course of her life.”
The incident report notes Gendreau was driving outside the designated emergency lane meant for patrol vehicles when he hit them.
Both girls were hospitalized but have since been released. Trumble continues to recover from her injuries.
Phillips said she has road-rash and tire marks on her face.
He said this is a problem for tourists and locals alike.
Phillips said he represented eight people across the state who have been run over on the beach, including a client who was also on Daytona Beach in 2011. She sued Daytona Beach and Volusia County.
“They promised classes, and they promised cameras, and they promised more open-area vehicles on the beach, and all of that lasted a few years, then stopped,” Phillips said.
Sgt. Gendreau put in his two-week notice with his last day being June 6.
He received a traffic ticket, but no further disciplinary action.
“The fact that he got a traffic citation as if he got a citation for driving two miles over the speed limit told me they didn’t take it seriously,” Phillips said.
Phillips said for now what he and the family want is a serious conversation with city and county officials to prevent future incidents.
“You need to send a message that this cannot happen again if you want your beaches to be as famous as you claim they are,” Phillips said.
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