A Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, tragedy unfolded on June 13, 2024, when Sandra “Sandy” Schultz-Peters, aged 66, was hit and killed by a police vehicle. The officer involved in the incident, whose identity has not been released, has been placed on administrative leave by the Horry County Police Department as the investigation continues.
The accident took place around 1 p.m. on Nash Street beach access, where Schultz-Peters was enjoying an afternoon read. Eyewitnesses recounted the disarray as the officer’s 2020 Ford Ranger pickup truck, coming from the north, collided with Schultz-Peters. Witness Denis Miller said, “Someone shouted that a person had been run over. We rushed over and saw a woman on the ground with a truck on top of her.”
Witness Amanda Bilodeau spoke of the chilling moments after the accident, stating, “It was the most intense scream I’ve ever heard, unlike anything from movies or elsewhere.” Despite the efforts of Bilodeau and other beachgoers, their attempts to aid Schultz-Peters proved futile.
Beachgoers, including former Marine Brian Stanford, managed to partially lift the truck off Schultz-Peters. Two paramedics, as well as Stanford’s wife Cindy, a nurse, attempted to stabilize her. Schultz-Peters was conscious and even provided the code to unlock her phone. However, she succumbed to her injuries at the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
Known for her caring nature and involvement in local activities, Schultz-Peters was a cherished nurse practitioner and a widow in the Myrtle Beach community. Amidst his grief, her brother Tony expressed sympathy for the officer involved in the accident, noting the heartache experienced by all.
The Horry County Police Department expressed its condolences in a statement: “What happened on the beach yesterday was heartbreaking, and we recognize the pain our community is feeling. Our condolences go out to all affected by this loss. We understand the community has questions, and so do we.”
Described by friends as a “whirling dervish,” Schultz-Peters was a petite woman with a larger-than-life personality. As a nurse practitioner, she was dedicated to her patients. She was an organizer of a book club and frequently walked her 10-year-old labradoodle, Sophie. Fellow book club member, Denise Lindgren, said, “She was beloved.” Schultz-Peters was fondly remembered for driving with her late Great Dane, Luther, whose head would stick out of the sunroof.
This incident comes after a similar event in 2020, where another individual was hit by a Horry County police patrol car on a nearby beach, surviving the incident. Other incidents of this nature have also occurred in places like Daytona Beach, Florida, where two sunbathers were hit by a police sergeant in May 2024.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into Schultz-Peters’s death, alongside an internal review by the Horry County Police Department. The aim is to understand the factors leading up to the accident and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In the wake of the incident, state representatives William Bailey and Tim McGinnis are advocating for legislation to regulate the use of full-sized vehicles on the beach during peak hours. They argue that these vehicles pose a significant safety risk due to their limited visibility and maneuverability.