Sunbather run over by Newport Beach lifeguard seeks $850,000

A sunbather has filed a claim against Newport Beach, saying a lifeguard ran over her last month with his truck.

City officials don't dispute her account.

"It happened," said City Atty. David Hunt. "The city really regrets that it happened, as do the lifeguards. The lifeguard was distracted, and it did occur.... The city recognizes that this shouldn't have happened and we'll make it right as best we can."

She is seeking $850,000.

About 12:50 p.m. Aug. 4, Janice Cola, 55, of Orange was relaxing in her beach chair reading a book on the sand at 54^th Street and Seaside Drive, not far from a lifeguard truck, her attorney Jay Weitzler said.

As she read, a lifeguard truck nearby slowly turned right in the sand toward her and drove its front-right tire over her thighs, breaking her pelvis.

According to both sides, the lifeguard was distracted by surfers in the water. There was a blackball that day, meaning board surfers were prohibited in the water because of conditions.

The lifeguard drove to the area, stopping not far from Cola, and made a public announcement for the surfers to exit the water, according to the police report.

Read the full Daily Pilot story here.

-- Joseph Serna, Times Community News

Comments

[Swan]

The Lifeguards blackballed the beach due to "conditions"? Bologne! There is no reason why surfers are blackballed from entire streches of the beach in Newport every single day. If the lifeguards actually realised how unreasonable and unfair this practice is this terrible "accident" might not have happened. Some of the lifeguards treat us surfers like axe murders because we're out surfing, enjoying the ocean like it should be. This is what too many stupid rules and regulations gets you- a poor lady who will suffer the rest of her life- a huge lawsuit- and an incompetent bunch of government bureaucrats who still don't understand why blackballing the whole beach is stupid. She should get double what she asked for!

[Eve]

Thanks Witman.

Actually, I have no idea if this woman is white, nor will I google her to try and find a photo. But I assumed from Miguel's comment that HE assumed she is white - because she was reading a book in Newport Beach. I think Miguel assumed she was white also - which is why I believe his comment has racial undertones.

And Cosmo Kramer, you are as ignorant as Miguel.
Mufon, "xenophobic". Really? Let me guess what your user name stands for...
Both of you need to stop trying to be cool.

[TheBigPicture]

They should give her $5000 and pay her medical bills...Nothing more..

[Otto]

The vehicles that they use nowadays are too large and too isolating. Never heard of this happening back when they used open Jeeps. Now that eight-cylinder pickups and SUVs have become the de facto standard, this happens somewhere about every other year or so.

[Jim]

This is a horrible accident! But you guys need to be easy on Miguel! He has a point! This lady is probably retired or stay at home mom. In other words, does not contribute to society. So with that being said, she should not be entitled to more than $5,000.00 to $8,000.00 in my opinion!

[guy]

really swan? If certian surfers didn't run people over with their boards then there wouldnt be black ball. Even then it is done based on crowd conditions I am sure you know that. It is a tragic accident and I am sure all involved feel very badly.