SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

South Carolina State Rep. William Bailey is calling for a legislative ban on police trucks on beaches after a 66-year-old woman was fatally struck by a patrol truck in Myrtle Beach earlier this month.

A South Carolina lawmaker is spearheading a legislative effort to ban police trucks from beaches following a tragic incident in Myrtle Beach where a 66-year-old woman was fatally struck by a patrol vehicle.

State Rep. William Bailey, a Republican and former North Myrtle Beach public safety director, told Fox News Digital that the use of trucks on beaches poses significant safety risks due to their large size and limited visibility.

SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

"At the end of the day, it's indefensible to tell me that you need to have a full-size truck down there when you have people lying on towels," Bailey said. "We need to eliminate the full-size vehicle – the peripheral vision is terrible."

The deadly incident, which is currently under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Horry County Police Department (HCPD), has raised concerns about the safety risks associated with having trucks on beaches.

SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

According to reports, the woman, identified as Sandy Schultz-Peters, was sitting on the beach when she was struck from the front and pinned under the truck's front passenger side tire as it pulled onto the beach. Despite frantic efforts to save her, Schultz-Peters later died in a hospital.

This incident is not the first involving a police truck on a South Carolina beach. In 2020, an officer in Horry County drove over a 69-year-old woman who was lying on the sand in Garden City, leaving her with serious injuries.

SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

Bailey believes that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) should be used by police for beach patrols instead of trucks, arguing that they offer better maneuverability and safety. He also proposes that trucks should only be used in emergencies with sirens blaring to alert beachgoers.

"I’m kind of in the investigation stage right now and this is just tragic what happened and anything we can do to prevent that and, at the same time let the police and public safety people do their job, is what I want," said State Rep. Tim McGinnis, a Republican.

SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

The Horry County Police Department has stated that it has reduced the use of trucks on beaches and increased the use of foot and ATV patrols. However, the department emphasizes that trucks remain critical for certain emergency situations.

Concerns over patrol truck safety on beaches are not exclusive to South Carolina. Similar incidents have occurred in Florida and California, raising questions about the suitability of using such vehicles in areas with high pedestrian traffic.

SC Lawmaker Pushes for Police Truck Ban on Beaches After Fatal Hit-and-Run

Bailey's proposed legislation aims to address these safety concerns and ensure that beaches remain safe for both residents and visitors. The bill is expected to be discussed in the upcoming legislative session.