Safety at work on the sands of North Myrtle Beach means full-sized vehicles are part of the job

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — News13 is continuing its four-part series looking into the safety of beachgoers in our community following the death of a Myrtle Beach woman who was run over by a full-sized Horry County Police Department pickup truck.

Sandra “Sandy” Schutlz, 66, died June 13 after being struck near the Nash Street access point.

In North Myrtle Beach on Wednesday, Skylar Musick spent the day on the sand monitoring what types of vehicles were being used by authorities on patrol.

Monty Reed, manager of the city’s beach patrol unit, said his team is responsible for a nine-mile radius that’s covered in two-person shifts.

Over the course of 12-hour workdays, they look for swimmers in danger, animals in the water and other hazards, driving Ford F-150s and Toyota Tacomas.

Reed said ATVs are used often, but the full-sized vehicles give crews enough space to store lifesaving equipment in what he dubs a “mobile command center.”

“I’ve got everything I need to run the beach operations. Whether it be during a medical aid, a missing swimmer, an enforcement action as a police officer,” he said. “I have rescue equipment, I have a backboard.”

Two beachgoers named Lisa and Belinda said they wanted officers to be equipped with everything they need in case of emergencies, but also think the city’s beach patrol should look into alternative vehicles.

Reed said he understands those concerns, but his agency’s top priority is keeping everyone safe.

The city’s vehicles are now required to ride with their emergency lights on, while on the beach, and officials are also looking into other camera options.

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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook , or Instagram , and read more of her work here .

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