Nearly six weeks after a pickup truck ran over her as she lay on the sand, Daisy Hernandez Mendez, 51, is still in a hospital bed, her family says. The March 14 crash on Ormond Beach left her with serious internal injuries and major lung damage, and relatives say she spent about a month in intensive care before being moved to a facility that could handle more advanced respiratory care. Both investigators and family members say her recovery has been slow while officials continue to sort out exactly what happened on the sand.
What investigators say
Florida Highway Patrol investigators told FOX 35 Orlando that the driver, identified as Aldo Serafini, was trying to make a U-turn near Andy Romano Beachfront Park when the truck’s front tires ran over Hernandez Mendez, then rolled over her again as he backed up. Troopers said Serafini was cited for an improper U-turn, expired registration, failing to follow driving restrictions, and operating without headlights, and that he was not wearing required prescription glasses at the time. He faces a misdemeanor charge. Authorities told reporters the case is still under review while they collect reports and bodycam footage.
Family update and condition
Relatives say Hernandez Mendez was first rushed to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, then later transferred to UF Health Shands in Gainesville for more specialized respiratory treatment, where they say she remains on breathing support. Her son has stayed at her bedside and told reporters that she has had setbacks but has recently shown small signs of improvement, according to WESH. Family members have launched a fundraiser to help cover what they describe as mounting medical bills as her long recovery continues.
Where it happened and beach driving context
Investigators say the crash happened on a stretch of sand near Andy Romano Beachfront Park, where vehicles are allowed in designated lanes, and beachgoers often set up just a few feet away. Deputies said Hernandez Mendez had been lying close to a driving lane when the truck hit her. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told ClickOrlando that bodycam audio from the scene described tire tracks across her torso and that the driver stayed at the scene. Officials noted this is not the first time people have been hurt where beach driving and sunbathing overlap, and they pointed to the built-in risk when cars and towels share the same shoreline.
Legal review
According to FOX 35 Orlando, the driver was cited at the scene and currently faces a misdemeanor charge while Florida Highway Patrol and local investigators continue to review the crash. Prosecutors are expected to decide whether any additional criminal charges or civil actions will follow once the full reports are finished.
Community response and safety takeaways
Local officials say beach driving is not going away in the zones where it is allowed, but they are urging everyone on the sand to treat those lanes with extra caution. That means drivers obeying lighting and speed rules and beachgoers giving vehicles plenty of space. “You have to have your head on a swivel. Windows down. No speed greater than 10 miles an hour,” Sheriff Chitwood told ClickOrlando, stressing that safety on the shore depends on everyone following the rules and staying alert.
