On July 15, a 15-year-old girl was lying on the sand at Oak Island Beach when a pickup truck ran over her legs. She was sunbathing in a public area, surrounded by other beachgoers, when a heavy vehicle—authorized to be there as part of a private coastal survey—drove directly over her body.

She was rushed to the hospital. She survived. But she’s now facing painful injuries and a long recovery, all because basic protections weren’t in place. Her life—and her family's—has been turned upside down.

The truck belonged to TI Coastal Services, a contractor hired by engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol to perform work ahead of Oak Island’s upcoming beach nourishment project. That work included allowing vehicles to drive along stretches of the beach where children play and families gather, even during peak summer season.

There were no clear warnings, no safety monitors, no barriers to keep people safe. The beach looked like a beach—but for one young girl, it became a site of trauma.

This petition is about more than accountability. It’s about standing with the victim and her family, who are now left to heal from an injury that should never have happened. It’s about demanding that Oak Island protect the public, not private contractors. And it’s about making sure this never happens again—because next time, it could be fatal.

We call on Oak Island officials to publicly support this victim and her family, launch a full independent investigation into the incident, and suspend all non-emergency vehicle access to public beaches until real safeguards are in place.

A child was run over where she should have been safe. That should shake every one of us into action.

Sign this petition to stand with the victim, hold those responsible accountable, and keep our beaches safe for everyone.