SANTA MONICA, CA – A disturbing incident unfolded late Thursday night when an unidentified woman lost her life after being struck by an SUV driven by a suspected DUI offender on the sands near the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
Authorities received reports around 11:30 p.m. of a silver SUV navigating the beach area. Eyewitnesses described the vehicle as maneuvering onto the sand before becoming stuck. One witness, who was staying on the beach, recounted seeing the SUV’s headlights moments before it got lodged in the sand.
According to the witness, a group of young individuals exited the vehicle and attempted to dislodge it. Despite their efforts, the SUV remained immobile when emergency responders arrived at the scene. The woman, whom police believe was homeless, was found unconscious and trapped beneath the vehicle. The emergency teams pronounced her dead on site.
Initial witness accounts mistakenly suggested a male victim. However, these reports were later corrected. It is suspected that the victim was asleep on the beach when the vehicle ran her over. The area is known to host a temporary homeless encampment, and signs of such activity were visible near the crash site on Friday morning as the investigation continued.
Police have identified the driver as 21-year-old YuYang Sun from Arcadia. Authorities stated that Sun was driving a 2015 Infiniti SUV and was reportedly speeding in circles on the beach when the tragic accident occurred.
Sun faces several charges following the incident, including suspicion of driving under the influence, gross vehicular manslaughter, and reckless driving. The crash led to significant parts of the beach being cordoned off as police initiated an investigation into the deadly episode.