Ireneparalegal
11-16-2005, 12:53 AM
Fla. Lifeguard Drives Over Sunbather's Head
Official: Soft Sand Likely Saved Woman
POSTED: 4:18 pm EST November 15, 2005
UPDATED: 4:35 pm EST November 15, 2005
For the second time, a Miami Beach lifeguard driving a truck has run over a sunbather lying on the beach.
Miami Beach Fire Chief Javier Otero said the 3,400-pound lifeguard truck ran over 19-year-old Jillian Gonzalez's head and shoulder on Sunday. An official said the soft sand likely saved her life because she was able to stand upright after being run over, according to the report.
"I couldn't see it but I knew it was a tire and I could feel the indentations in the tire, and I knew I was being run over," Gonzalez said. And I told him to call 911 and that something in my face was broken and I needed to get to a hospital."
A reporter asked, "Were you crying?"
"I was crying hysterically," Gonzalez said.
"What were you saying?" the reporter asked.
"Get me help, get me to a hospital, my face is broken, my face is broken," Gonzalez said.
Lifeguard Orlando Artiz drove over an embankment and narrowly missed Gonzalez's friend Daniel Martinez before running over and crushing an ice chest and then running over Gonzalez's head.
She was treated at a hospital and released.
A similar incident happened in 2003 when two sisters visiting from France were run over by a Miami Beach police officer. One of them died and the other was seriously injured.
After the 2003 incident, rules were established so it would not happen again.
An investigation Tuesday found Artiz violated the rules by driving about 60 feet east of a line of trash cans.
People were outraged that another incident happened, according to the report.
Official: Soft Sand Likely Saved Woman
POSTED: 4:18 pm EST November 15, 2005
UPDATED: 4:35 pm EST November 15, 2005
For the second time, a Miami Beach lifeguard driving a truck has run over a sunbather lying on the beach.
Miami Beach Fire Chief Javier Otero said the 3,400-pound lifeguard truck ran over 19-year-old Jillian Gonzalez's head and shoulder on Sunday. An official said the soft sand likely saved her life because she was able to stand upright after being run over, according to the report.
"I couldn't see it but I knew it was a tire and I could feel the indentations in the tire, and I knew I was being run over," Gonzalez said. And I told him to call 911 and that something in my face was broken and I needed to get to a hospital."
A reporter asked, "Were you crying?"
"I was crying hysterically," Gonzalez said.
"What were you saying?" the reporter asked.
"Get me help, get me to a hospital, my face is broken, my face is broken," Gonzalez said.
Lifeguard Orlando Artiz drove over an embankment and narrowly missed Gonzalez's friend Daniel Martinez before running over and crushing an ice chest and then running over Gonzalez's head.
She was treated at a hospital and released.
A similar incident happened in 2003 when two sisters visiting from France were run over by a Miami Beach police officer. One of them died and the other was seriously injured.
After the 2003 incident, rules were established so it would not happen again.
An investigation Tuesday found Artiz violated the rules by driving about 60 feet east of a line of trash cans.
People were outraged that another incident happened, according to the report.