Man’s car damaged by Ocean Boulevard barricade

A man flagged down Myrtle Beach police Tuesday night after he said some barricades lining Ocean Boulevard fell and damaged his vehicle at a red light.

The 25-year-old man told Myrtle Beach officers he was sitting at a red light at 8th Avenue North and North Ocean Boulevard when metal barricades tumbled over and struck his vehicle, according to a Myrtle Beach police report.

The 2000 Volvo suffered damage to the right rear quarter panel, the report said.

The responding officer viewed city surveillance footage and noted “the barricades fell for an unknown reason and struck his car.”

The barricades, which city officials have said improve safety by separating vehicles and pedestrians, have been controversial since they were put up after a string of shootings over Father's Day weekend. One of those shootings, on Ocean Boulevard, sent six people to the hospital.

"In cases like that someone typically alerts us, and they'll file a claim with the city, and we'll take a look at it," City Spokesman Mark Kruea said of the incident. The police report does not specify a cost for the damage to the man’s car.

City Councilmen Mike Lowder and Randal Wallace both spoke in favor of removing the barricades at a public meeting Tuesday afternoon.

"We can accomplish what we're accomplishing on the boulevard right now with the boots on the ground that we have and with the enforcement that's taking place, and ... without the barricades being down there," Lowder said.

They will remain in place for the time being, however, and officials said police are continuing to assess their usefulness.

This story was originally published July 12, 2017 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Man’s car damaged by Ocean Boulevard barricade."