Beach Collision Investigation
California State Parks Lifeguard Vehicle Strikes Woman on Half Moon Bay Beach; Investigation Underway
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Key Points
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The lifeguard vehicle involved was a pickup truck, rather than a standard car, used by California State Parks lifeguards.
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A bystander camping at Francis Beach said emergency crews were on scene and described responders digging out the woman after the crash.
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The injured beachgoer was treated on the sand at the scene before being transported by ambulance to a local hospital, with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
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Investigators are examining the possibility that the lifeguard may not have been watching the sand ahead, in addition to initial reports that the driver may have been distracted.
A California State Parks lifeguard drove a pickup truck over a 20-year-old woman lying on the sand at Francis Beach in Half Moon Bay on June 24, around 3:45 p.m., according to SFGATE. The woman was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to a local hospital with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is leading an independent investigation at the request of California State Parks. SFGATE reported that Sheriff's communications director Gretchen Spiker said "initial reports indicated the driver may have been distracted." The lifeguard has been identified only as a seasonal employee. No name has been released.
Bystanders Watched as Crews Dug Woman from Sand
The collision happened near the Kelly Avenue beach access point. Witnesses at the campground on the same beach described a chaotic scene. Hoodline reported that a bystander said emergency crews were on scene and that responders had to dig the woman out from the sand after the truck ran over her. Coastside Fire, State Park Peace Officers, and American Medical Response all arrived within minutes.
Paramedics treated the woman on the sand before loading her into a ground ambulance around 4:15 p.m., according to SFGATE. California State Parks confirmed the vehicle was a pickup truck — a standard part of its beach patrol fleet. Investigators have not said how fast the truck was traveling. Similar accidents typically occur at speeds of 4 to 5 mph, which is still enough to cause serious internal injuries.
Sheriff Takes Over to Avoid Conflict of Interest
By 5 p.m. on the day of the crash, California State Parks had asked the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to run the probe independently, according to KTVU FOX 2. The move was meant to prevent the agency from investigating itself. Twenty-seven full-time deputies are assigned to the Coastside Patrol Bureau, which is supporting the inquiry.
Investigators are looking at two possibilities: distracted driving and the chance the lifeguard simply was not watching the sand ahead, SFGATE reported. Pickup trucks sit high off the ground. Safety experts note that even a small mound of sand can hide a person lying flat from a driver's view. The sheriff's office has not said whether phones, radios, or other devices were involved.
This Has Happened Before on California Beaches
The Francis Beach crash is not the first of its kind. In 2014, a Los Angeles County lifeguard SUV ran over Lorae Bermudez, 26, while she was sunbathing at Venice Beach. She suffered a lacerated liver. Los Angeles County settled that case in 2017 for $1.7 million, according to People. In 2005, a 19-year-old was struck by a Ford F-150 lifeguard truck in Santa Monica. That case settled for $600,000.
Just last year, two teenagers in Florida were run over by a lifeguard truck while lying behind a sand berm at Nokomis Beach, according to us.headtopics.com. Both survived but suffered severe injuries. Safety advocates have called for 360-degree cameras and proximity sensors on all beach patrol vehicles. Many older fleet trucks used by state agencies do not have these features.
Pickup Trucks on Beaches Draw Growing Scrutiny
California State Parks says roving vehicle patrols are essential. They help lifeguards reach remote stretches of beach quickly. But critics argue that large pickup trucks are the wrong tool for crowded beaches. Smaller ATVs offer better visibility and a lower profile, making it harder to miss a person lying on the sand, according to community discussion reported by Hoodline.
The incident adds to a difficult summer on the Bay Area coast. On June 10, 2026, two students drowned after being swept away at Panther Beach, according to SFGATE. The victim at Francis Beach has six months to file a legal claim against the state under California law. Given past settlements, the state could face significant financial exposure. The investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed.
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