Former Volusia Lifeguard’s Policy Breach Led to Injury of Two Women

Arthur Gendreau, a former Volusia County Beach Safety sergeant, failed to follow safety protocols which led to a serious incident on Memorial Day in Daytona Beach. According to Volusia County Public Protection Director Mark Swanson, Gendreau did not walk around his marked county Ford F150 truck as required by policy before he hit two women lying on the beach.

The incident occurred while Gendreau was parked and talking with another Beach Safety official. As he made a slight right turn, he struck Sophia Kapp and Sierra Trumble, both 18. Trumble suffered severe injuries including a lacerated liver, multiple fractures, and significant facial trauma. Gendreau was aware he had made contact and exited his vehicle to discover the two women under the front bumper.

Volusia County policy mandates that Beach Safety officials must check their surroundings by walking around their vehicle if stopped for more than 30 seconds. Gendreau’s failure to perform this check is seen as a critical lapse that contributed to the accident. Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Ben Serio, who was present but did not perform the required check before driving away, will also receive an Employee Performance Notice. However, Serio’s failure was not directly linked to the incident as he did not drive the vehicle involved.

Gendreau, who had already planned to resign from his position before the incident, has expressed deep regret and apologized to the victims. He acknowledged his responsibility and has stated that he believes the victims should receive full compensation for their injuries. Despite his resignation and the citation for careless driving being dismissed, the impact of the accident remains significant.

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Gendreau’s resignation and the subsequent investigation highlight the importance of adhering to safety protocols to prevent such accidents. The case underscores the need for strict compliance with operational procedures, especially in roles that involve public safety. For further details on the incident, you can read more on News-Journal Online.