2 Beachgoers injured after being struck By Patrol Vehicle In Long Beach

2 people suffered personal injury after being struck by a patrol vehicle on Long Beach in Long Island, NY. A 48-year-old man and his 36-year-old female companion, both from Hempstead, were lying on the beach among people a little bit after sunset when a cop driving a beach patrol SUV ran over them.  Both of them were transported to the hospital to be treated. The man suffered broken ribs and a bruised lung. His companion had a broken finger and a leg injury. The man was released from the hospital on Monday. The woman is still in the hospital.

The police officer, 32-year-old David Walpole, was making a three-point turn on the beach when the accident occurred. According to the police, Walpole just didn’t see the couple. The cop had driven his SUV in an area where cars usually don’t go because he was trying to prevent a large crowd from going into the ocean as the lifeguards had gone off duty a little bit earlier.Walpole has 20 years of service with the police. He was also sent to the hospital where his blood was checked for alcohol and drugs. Results came out perfectly clean.

A witness said that he was walking on the beach and thought he was hallucinating when he saw the cop car on top of a human body.

Police commonly patrol Long Beach and a similar accident occurred in 2010. A SUV rushing to rescue someone in the water hit a man sitting in a beach chair. After the accident the police only used ATVs during busy time.

Even at time when the beach is less busy the use of pick up trucks and SUVs by the police on the beach is questionable. Why cant the police use only ATVs all the time or maybe use horses or simply walk?

Read more on the NBC New York Website