An evening at the beach turned into a harrowing event for Peter Reece and his family Thursday night in Ocean Shores when their new, parked car was taken by the water when a strong tide came in.
A wave took the car and flipped it on its side just after firefighters helped Reece’s family to safety, evading what could have been a tragic accident.
Reece, 25, said he had taken a trip to Ocean Shores on Thursday with his fiancé, six-month-old daughter and his mother after having not been to the ocean for quite some time. They parked their car about 20 feet from the tide to take some pictures near the West Chance ala Mer beach approach.
Reece said the tide was low when their car was parked, but within five minutes of their arrival, the waves picked up, surrounding the Reeces’ vehicle.
“The tide was really low,” said Reece of the waves when his family got to the beach. “Then it just came out of nowhere.”
Everyone got in the car. But, Reece tried to drive the vehicle to dry land, the tires were stuck in the surf. Panicked, Reece ran to the beach and recovered some wooden planks to place under the car’s tires to gain traction while his fiancé went to get help. His mother stayed in the car with his daughter. When running to get the wood, Reece heard his mother scream for help.
When he went back, he found a foot of water in the car as his mother clutched his six-month-old daughter.
“I was terrified,” said Reece. “My fiancé was crying because she has a fear of water. Before we got out of the car the tide came in and crashed against the side (of the car).”
Reece tried to move the car a second time with the help of the planks, but the car remained stuck.
First responders arrived around 7 p.m. and found Reece in the car with his mother and daughter and told Reece to stop trying to drive the vehicle and get out. Reece was able to exit the vehicle on his own, but, Ocean Shores Police Officer Kyle Watson helped his mother and daughter exit the vehicle amidst the tide.
Reece said the car had moved roughly 10 feet from where he initially parked it and flipped upside down when a wave hit the vehicle a short time later. While attempting to tow the car out of the water, another wave came and moved the car right-side up, making it easier to tow.
Reece and his fiancé both lost their cellphones during the incident and other items in the car, including an iPad and Reece’s daughter’s formula.
“A lot of stuff floated off,” said Reece. He bought the vehicle in late March.
Reece said first responders went to the store and bought his daughter new formula after the incident.
“I want to thank Ocean Shores fire and police. They did a real good job and they made us feel comfortable, safe and warm,” said Reece.
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