Woman on Santa Monica beach sand killed by vehicle, driver in custody

A woman on the beach was killed by an SUV that drove onto the sand near the Santa Monica Pier late Thursday night.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. when witnesses said a vehicle came around a restroom building and drove directly on the sand. That is when the car struck the woman who was on the beach.

It's unclear if the woman was walking on the sand, or lying down. Santa Monica police and fire crews responded and tried to rescue the woman who was trapped and lodged under the SUV, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the woman was potentially unhoused. 

The driver, a 21-year-old man, remained by the vehicle and was arrested for DUI and vehicular manslaughter, according to SMPD.