A tranquil afternoon on Ormond Beach turned tragic when a vehicle struck a man resting on the sand, according to authorities.
The incident occurred Saturday, April 5th, involving a Jeep Wrangler and a 33-year-old man from Ocala. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office reported that the man was lying face down when the accident took place. He sustained significant injuries including:
* A fractured femur
* Multiple fractures to his right forearm
* Third-degree burns
* A cracked pelvis
He was swiftly transported to a local hospital and is currently listed in stable condition.
The driver, a 61-year-old woman, was attempting to maneuver her vehicle into a parking spot when the accident occurred. She inadvertently crossed marked travel lines while backing up. She remained at the scene and has been cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Deputies cited her for careless driving, noting there were no indications of impairment.
The victim, identified as Colson Janey, recounted his experience to WESH 2, stating, “It’s like I had two brains…one brain was just screaming and thinking about how much pain I was in. The other brain was kind of being more rational, thinking, ‘OK, what’s broken? What’s moving?’” He described the impact as devastating, noting his forearm felt “flattened” and his leg “mangled.” Janey also shared with FOX 35 that he had recently purchased a Jeep and was enjoying taking it onto the beach when the accident happened. He recounted being “screaming bloody murder” after the vehicle passed over him.
Janey expressed concern about the lack of clear boundaries defining permitted driving areas on the beach, stating, “There’s nothing that like, tells you, ‘OK this is as far as cars can go, towards the beach.’ There’s nothing.”
This incident isn’t isolated; there has been a concerning pattern of vehicle-related injuries along beaches in the Volusia County area over the past year. One example cited involved a Volusia County Beach Patrol sergeant accidentally striking two teenagers on Daytona Beach during Memorial Day weekend.
The driver of the Jeep, while not making a public statement, is reportedly “devastated” by what occurred. Her husband agreed with Janey that improved signage and demarcation would help prevent future incidents.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for comment.
