Four deaths and a major injury within a few months — including two tragedies within 72 hours — is a big deal in Ocean City. That just doesn’t happen here and that’s why it hits so hard.
That fact was not lost on local residents over the last week as well as Town of Ocean City officials with both Communications Manager Jessica Waters and Mayor Rick Meehan reflecting earlier this week after a weekend that saw a grisly fatal motorcycle accident on 28th Street and an eight-story balcony fall from a 20th Street hotel.
“This has been one of the most traumatic months that I can recall and the various incidents that we have seen in the last several weeks have not only been heartbreaking but avoidable,” said Waters. “When we have a visitor who comes to Ocean City and doesn’t return home, it affects us all to our core. … We make a living creating a safe and happy vacation destination for our visitors, so when a family experiences anything other than great joy and happiness during their stay, we feel in some way we have failed them. No matter how much we do, we also need our visitors to put safety at the top of their list during their stay in Ocean City and pay close attention to their surroundings, specifically when walking or driving on Coastal Highway. The Town of Ocean City will stay dedicated to making our city and roadways safe and we ask for the same commitment from our visitors.”
Meehan added similar thoughts, saying, “If there is anything we can learn from the terrible incidents that we have seen over the last several weeks, it’s that a life can change in a quick second. There is nothing more important than taking a few extra steps to cross in a crosswalk, to wait a few minutes and cross with the light or to keep your eyes on the road at all times. We know our visitors come here to have a carefree stay, and we want that too, but not at the expense of someone’s safety. Safety must always come first.
We have said this before many times, but it cannot be understated. It’s amazing there are not more tragedies in Ocean City when considering the sheer volume of people who come here for short periods of time to kick back and vacation. Most come here for rest and relaxation and to make lifelong memories with families, but some have other ideas, namely to celebrate and enjoy themselves to a degree they put themselves and others in danger. With this huge influx of people on weekends like there was for Cruisin’, there are bound to be accidents and incidents. It’s only when there are tragic consequences that we all truly take stock.
In the specific case of the motorcycle accident last Thursday, it’s a miracle nobody else was hurt. Considering the speed and the monstrosity of the impact, it’s truly a blessing no bystanders were nearby or other vehicles were not impacted. Although it may seem harsh to say, it’s a miracle there were not more tragedies that day.
While pristine world-class beaches, clean waterways, high quality amenities, an impressive variety of free activities, fun amusements and a highly regarded Boardwalk are among the jewels that make Ocean City special, public safety will always be the top priority. For without it, there would no reason to visit or live here.
It may seem incongruous to point out that more than eight million people visit Ocean City and history confirms there are rarely more than a few fatalities a year. That’s an amazing record for a vacation resort. The downside of that is when it does happen it’s particularly heavy because we are unaccustomed to it. Here’s to hoping we never become desensitized to the types of incidents that occurred last weekend because that would mean the resort is changing. We look forward to a more peaceful and safe season ahead and echo the safety messages heard this week.
