Man in critical condition found on Santa Monica beach

SANTA MONICA, CA -- A man was found in critical condition on Sunday after apparently being run over on the sand in Santa Monica.

The man was found around 6:45 a.m. north of the Santa Monica Pier, near a parking lot along Pacific Coast Highway. Tire tracks found near the man were being investigated, Santa Monica police Sgt. Rudy Flores said.

"Where the officers found him, there were tire tracks and our forensic unit came out and did molding and took photographs," said Flores.

Police say a woman heard someone on the beach screaming for help and called 911. When authorities arrived, the man told them he had been hit by a vehicle sometime Saturday night, but gave few other details.

Authorities said they know a police vehicle was not involved, but it could possibly have been a city vehicle.

Investigators said at this point it's unclear exactly what happened or where the accident might have occurred.

"We're not sure if it happened here on the beach or possibly on PCH. We're not even sure if he was hit by a vehicle. We're treating it as an injured person or possibly a collision," Flores said.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.