MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Sandra “Sandy” Schultz-Peters was a generous, loving friend who often was seen around her Market Common home walking her beloved dogs.
The 66-year-old died on Thursday after she was run over by a full-sized pickup truck while on an Horry County beach — a vehicle operated by a police officer.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating exactly what happened. The officer remains on administrative leave. News13 has chosen not to identify him as charges have not been filed as of Wednesday night.
A nurse practitioner, Schultz-Peters was known for her kind nature.
Neighbor Cindy Krisel first met Shultz-Peters in 2015 and will never forget her first impression of the woman who would become her friend.
“I didn’t know it at the time, but she was leaving to go to work, and she said no, tell me, tell me what’s wrong so I told her,” Krisel said. “She told me ‘Yeah, you should probably go to urgent care’ and she says, ‘actually I’m on my way there now, do you need a ride.’ I just got chills again. She was just so sweet, you know, she didn’t know me, I didn’t know her, and she’s willing to take me to urgent care.”
Another neighbor, Tammy Isaac, said Schultz-Peters always had a smile on her face and treated everyone with respect.
“She makes you feel comfortable, and I don’t think it’s just because we know her, we knew her,” Isaac said. “You know, I see her, saw her like that with other patients who don’t live in the neighborhood.”
Myrtle Beach city leaders say they’re “evaluating options” to make beach patrol vehicles safer in the aftermath of that deadly incident at the Nash Street ocean access point in Horry County.
Spokesperson Meredith Denari told News13 on Wednesday those enhancements could include exterior cameras and object detection sensors to the front of vehicles.
News13 asked several Horry County Council members on Tuesday to comment about potential changes that could be made to its policies, but all declined.
In the days since Schultz-Peters’ death, state lawmakers have said they’re interested in updating regulations that could bar full-sized public safety vehicles from patrolling beaches during peak use times.
“There’s just no room on the coast for the sunbathers and people who are coming down to enjoy our area, and also have F-150s and other vehicles when we have other resources that we could depend on,” Republican state Rep. William Bailey of Little River told News13 on Saturday.
Bailey, a former North Myrtle Beach public safety director, said he’d like to see a prohibition on full-sized vehicles being used on the beach during busy hours in the summer in nonemergency situations.
“In light of this tragedy, certainly we should be looking at, ‘are we doing it the right way,’” Bailey said. “Just patrolling (with full-sized vehicles) on the oceanfront when there are thousands and thousands of people, it’s just not worth the risk.”
Republican state Rep. Tim McGinnis of Myrtle Beach told News13 that he would also support efforts to better regulate the use of full-sized vehicles on the beach.
“I am interested in talking with law enforcement and safety officials about legislation to prevent this from happening again,” he said in a text message. “What happened was a tragedy, and if there’s a way we can make it safer on our beaches, we need to do it.”
Denari said Myrtle Beach’s fire and police departments each operate on the sand.
“The main difference between the two is the MBPD is ‘patrolling the beach,’ while fire department ocean rescue is responding to medical calls,” Denari said.
During daytime and congested hours, city police deploy compact pick-up trucks, side-by-side UTVs and four-wheelers.
“Beach patrol officers may also drive a Ford F-150 in addition to vehicles listed at night and during times of less beach congestion only,” Denari said.
However, she said the full-sized vehicles play a vital role in keeping people safe for reasons including:
- All lifesaving equipment will only fit on full-sized pickups including flotation devices, rescue boards, spinal stabilization gear, mask and snorkel sets, search and rescue marker buoys and first aid kits
- Ease of access in loading patients who need emergency care
- Launching points for search and rescue jetskis
- protection for fire and police personnel during storms and extreme heat
Several safety regulations are already in place, including the ability to make only left turns and a maximum 5 mph speed limit on beaches.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
