The Horry County law enforcement officer who ran over and killed a Myrtle Beach beachgoer wasn’t paying close enough attention while driving, according to a South Carolina Highway Patrol report documenting the fatal accident.
The report released Friday through a Freedom of Information Act request states that Julian “Duke” Brown began to pull forward in his beach patrol truck when, “due to inattention,” he struck Sandra “Sandy” Schultz-Peters while she was sitting on the beach reading.
The 66-year-old later died at a hospital from her injuries.
The accident happened on June 13, 2024, near the Nash Street Beach Access outside of Myrtle Beach.
The report also listed Brown as contributing to the accident, though he had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time. No charges were recommended against Brown in the report.
The accident happened about 1:07 p.m, according to SCHP. The officer was traveling from Nash Street onto the beach when he struck the beachgoer with his service vehicle.
Witnesses, who helped to lift the truck off of Schultz-Peters, said the officer in the truck also helped and rendered aid to the woman.
The family of Sandra “Sandy” Schultz-Peters filed a wrongful death lawsuit on June 28, 2024, against the Horry County Police Department claiming negligence against the department and Brown, who was its beach safety director at the time.
Brown retired from the department in July.
Source Agencies
