DeLAND, Fla. – A hearing Wednesday morning saw a traffic citation dismissed for a former Volusia County Beach Safety sergeant accused of running over two sunbathers on Memorial Day.
Arthur Gendreau was cited for careless driving after he “accidentally struck” two 18-year-old Kissimmee women who were sunbathing on the sand outside of the emergency lane in the 400 block North in Daytona Beach. The citation was dismissed on Wednesday.
According to an incident report, Gendreau was driving a patrol vehicle outside the designated emergency lane meant for said vehicles when he hit the sunbathers. Both women were hospitalized in stable condition and have since been released as further disciplinary action against Gendreau — who has since resigned — was never taken, according to Attorney John Phillips.
Phillips represents Sierra Trumble, one of the women who was hospitalized in the incident. According to Phillips, Trumble was left with road rash and tire marks on her face.
“It ran over my client Sierra’s face and her leg,” Phillips has said. “It changed the course of her life.”
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In a news release issued this week, Phillips further accused responding sheriff’s deputies of downplaying the women’s injuries.
Phillips shared body-worn camera video from the day of the incident, pointing to instances of deputies allegedly saying such things as, “(expletive) happens,” and, “could happen to anyone.”
“Investigators also seem to have sided with their fellow employee. He resigned without discipline and has (pleaded) not guilty to any violation,” Phillips said in a statement.
The two sunbathers were set to appear for Wednesday’s 11 a.m. hearing in DeLand, according to Phillips.
At the hearing, Gendreau read a statement apologizing.
“I would like to express my deepest apologies to these two young women, not a day has passed that I haven’t thought of the both of you and thanked God for his protection over both of you,” Gendreau said in part. “I was at fault being on duty during this accident and I believe they should be fully compensated for their trauma and injuries.”
Phillips said what the victim’s family wanted most was to make other people safer.
“For somebody to plead guilty and admit their responsibility, I think it’s a good day for justice,” Phillips said. “This was the first step, seeing what they would say, and whether they would admit responsibility. The next step is filing the lawsuit.”
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