A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after allegedly driving over and killing a woman on the beach near the Santa Monica Pier, police said.
The unidentified driver reportedly ran over the woman while driving in circles at high speeds in a 2015 Infiniti SUV, about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, the Santa Monica Police Department said in a news release.
First responders rushed onto the sand near a Cirque du Soleil Kooza set up on the beach to try and free a person trapped under the silver SUV, according to KABC7.
The unidentified driver remained at the scene.
He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, reckless driving and gross vehicular manslaughter, police said.
The woman, who has not been identified, was believed to be homeless.
Video showed firefighters digging underneath the SUV while others stood nearby with wood blocks that could be used to help dislodge a vehicle stuck in the sand. Firefighters tried to reach the woman and provide help, but she died at the scene. The vehicle was later lifted with equipment from the Santa Monica Fire Department and the woman’s body was removed, according to authorities.
“We were just passing by walking our dog and I saw that car stuck out there… but i saw the car door open… and it looked like there was a bunch of people running away from that car, at first, so I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on,” witness Shyler Compton told KABC.
At least two people got out of the SUV and tried to move it but it was stuck on top of the victim, KTLA reported. Police took the driver into custody. Video showed a man crying in handcuffs being escorted into a police vehicle.
Police investigators remain on the scene as of Friday morning and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has been notified about the death.
Anyone with information can contact the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8427.
