Woman run over at Sadler Beach

Fernandina Beach Police

Fernandina Beach Police responded beachside at Seaside Park near Sadler Road at 1:39 PM today after a 53 year old Akron, Ohio woman was struck by a silver Jeep Cherokee. The driver of the vehicle immediately fled the scene, even after being told by a witness that he had run over the victim.

At least three witnesses provided testimony to detectives investigating this incident. The vehicle was identifiable by Florida tag and officers immediately went to the area where the vehicle was registered, which was less than a mile away from the scene of the hit and run.

Police learned that the owner of the Jeep Cherokee arrived just minutes before police and hurried to park his vehicle in the garage of the house next to his residence. He refused to respond to police attempts to talk to him for more than an hour, but eventually agreed to come outside when asked by the homeowner.

The victim was apparently sunbathing on the beach in an area just east of where the sand drops off toward the ocean. Witnesses and physical evidence at the scene confirm that the driver of the Jeep drove eastbound toward the ocean and bounded off the raised sand to the sand below, striking the victim and running over her as she lay on the beach. The driver then accelerated rapidly and turned back to the west and drove toward the beach parking entrance.

We are currently interviewing the driver of the Jeep and we expect to charge him with Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries, FSS 316.027(2)(a). Anyone with information should contact Detective Michelle Arseneau at 904-310-3217.