Lifeguard Runs Over Teen Sunbathers
Two teenage girls, ages 14 and 15, were struck and run over by a pickup truck operated by a Sarasota County lifeguard on Nokomis Beach on April 18, 2025, leaving them with serious injuries and prompting their families to retain Morgan & Morgan to investigate alleged negligence. The crash—believed to stem from the lifeguard’s limited visibility over the hood of an F-150 as he attempted to exit the sand—led to one girl being airlifted for a broken pelvis and the other transported by ground ambulance for multiple pain complaints. Witnesses described frantic rescue efforts amid sobbing first responders, while the Sarasota County Fire Department fully cooperates with an active Sheriff’s Office investigation. In the wake of the incident, community advocates are pressing county leaders to overhaul beach-vehicle protocols—assigning lower-profile ATVs and revising berm-crossing procedures—to prevent future tragedies.
Incident Description
On April 18 at approximately 4:46 p.m., a lifeguard driving a Ford F-150 attempted to exit Nokomis Beach over a sand berm toward a closed parking area near the North Jetty. He reported standing up in his seat to see over the high hood, proceeding “very slowly” across the berm’s crest, and feeling two bumps before stopping and discovering the victims beneath his vehicle. At the time, pickup trucks were the only beach-access vehicles assigned to that stretch, as no ATVs were available for lifeguard operations.
Victims and Medical Treatment
One girl, aged 14, was taken by Sarasota County Fire Department crews via ground ambulance to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, complaining of neck, shoulder, side and hip pain. The second girl, aged 15, was airlifted by Aeromed to All Children’s Hospital, where imaging confirmed a broken pelvis; she was kept overnight for evaluation of potential lung and liver trauma. Both remain hospitalized but are reported to be in stable condition.
Eyewitness Accounts
Regular beachgoer Gay Johnson arrived to find emergency personnel surrounding the injured teenagers and saw the lifeguard “standing there sobbing” as he began rendering aid. Another witness walking toward the beach said she moved at a slow pace yet did not see the girls until she heard screams upon impact—affirming that the lifeguard’s line of sight was severely obstructed by the truck’s hood.
Legal and Official Responses
Within days, both families retained Morgan & Morgan trial attorney Ryan Sainz, who vowed to “uncover any negligence that contributed to their injuries and pursue justice.” In a joint statement, John Morgan and Sainz described the crash as “entirely preventable and should have never happened,” and the families expressed being “shaken and disturbed” as they seek answers and accountability.
The Sarasota County Fire Department issued a brief statement confirming its cooperation with law enforcement and offering support to the victims’ families. The Sheriff’s Office continues an active crash investigation, gathering vehicle-data logs and witness statements to determine whether any policies were violated.
Safety Implications
Safety advocates argue that relying solely on high-hood pickups for beach patrols creates blind-spot hazards, particularly when crossing uneven berms. They recommend the county assign ATVs—whose lower profiles afford better forward visibility—and implement stricter berm-crossing training and speed limitations to guard against similar accidents.
Investigation Status
Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies have classified the case as an active investigation and are reviewing departmental vehicle-use protocols alongside crash-scene forensics. County officials have declined further comment due to ongoing litigation, and it remains unclear whether the lifeguard has been placed on administrative leave.
