Reckless Driver Accused Of Running Over Marine Turtle Nest On Florida Beach

A North Carolina man found himself in hot water in Florida for allegedly running over a turtle nest while driving recklessly on the beach, police said.

Officers in Daytona Beach Shores responded to the scene around 6 p.m. on July 16 after receiving reports that a person behind the wheel of a white and blue Ford F-150 pickup truck with plates from North Carolina was outside proper traffic lanes and driving erratically in the sand, WFTV reported.

Police stopped the driver, 48-year-old Gary Killian, and arrested him after they learned he was operating his truck on a suspended license.

Investigators said they also determined Killian had torn up a marked marine turtle nest because orange masking tape used to indicate its presence was allegedly sticking to the man’s vehicle.

Tire marks over the nest were also matched to those made by the suspect’s truck, police said.

Killian was booked into the Volusia County jail and faces charges of driving with a suspended license and felony molestation of a marine turtle nest.