Sunbather Run Over by County Maintenance Truck in Venice Beach

VENICE, CA -- A 53-year-old man suffered serious injuries Friday when a Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department's maintenance truck struck him while he was in the sand at Venice Beach, authorities said.

The accident occurred a little before 8:45 a.m. at 417 Ocean Front Walk, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The man was rushed to a hospital suffering from serious injuries, Scott said.

This is the second time in 2 1/2 years that a Beaches and Harbors Department vehicle has struck a sunbather in Venice beach, department spokeswoman Carol Baker said. A 49-year-old woman was struck and injured in May 2014. A maintenance employee had stopped to survey and arrange for the removal of several large pieces of debris near the shoreline. When he attempted to leave, he struck the woman who was lying facedown in the sand unseen by the worker.

Earlier Friday, Officer Robert Kim of the LAPD's West Traffic Division said the man was struck by a Los Angeles County Lifeguard truck and that a police investigation is underway.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division however said the truck was not a department's truck. Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department's spokeswoman Carol Baker confirmed the accident was caused by one of its maintenance employee.

-- City News Service contributed to this report, photo via Shutterstock