Accused drunk driver runs over, kills woman while doing circles on beach, CA cops say
A suspected drunk driver accused of running over and killing a woman while doing circles on the beach has been arrested, California cops say.
Officers responded to a beach area near the Santa Monica Pier at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, after being flagged down about a vehicle stuck in the sand, the Santa Monica Police Department said in an Oct. 18 news release.
“We were just passing by walking our dog, and I saw that car stuck out there,” witness Shyler Compton told KABC. “And it looked like there was a bunch of people running away from that car, at first.”
When they arrived, officers found an unconscious woman “wedged beneath the vehicle,” police said.
The SUV’s driver, a 21-year-old man, “was reported to be driving in circles at high speeds on the sand when he ran over” the woman, police said.
Members of the Santa Monica Fire Department tried to reach the woman to help her; however, she was pronounced dead on scene, according to police.
Rescuers used equipment to lift the vehicle and get the woman’s body out from under the SUV, according to police.
The woman has not been identified, police said, adding that the county coroner’s office will be working on the case.
The driver, who remained at the scene, was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to police.
This story was originally published October 18, 2024 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Accused drunk driver runs over, kills woman while doing circles on beach, CA cops say."
