Woman reading book on beach struck by trash truck

SHIP BOTTOM, N.J. -- A woman reading a book on an Ocean County beach was struck by a trash truck Wednesday morning.

Authorities say the 38-year-old woman from Toronto, Canada was lying in the sand at the 3rd Avenue Beach in Ship Bottom just before 8 a.m.

At the same time, a 42-year-old man was driving a Ship Bottom Public Works truck, making morning trash pickups on the beach.

Police say the woman was struck by the front wheel of the vehicle. The truck then stopped on the woman.

Authorities were able to remove her from underneath the truck.

She was taken to Atlantic City Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition with minor injuries to her leg and arm.

The driver of the truck has agreed to submit to blood samples and to give a taped statement, police say.