Autistic Greenville High student dies after jumping from ambulance

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Autistic Greenville High student dies after jumping from ambulance

By Alongi • Staff writer • March 1, 2010

Hodge said nobody believed her when she protested her 16-year-old son's

release from a state psychiatric hospital, warning that he could hurt himself or

someone else.

That teen, Emory of Greenville, was being driven back to the same hospital

Sunday when he loosened a gurney's straps and jumped out of the back of an

ambulance as it traveled down Interstate 85, authorities said.

Emory later died at Greenville Memorial Hospital, said Greenville County Chief

Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis.

The state Highway Patrol is investigating, said Cpl. McDougald.

Emory was admitted to Greenville Memorial Hospital on Friday and was headed

Sunday to S. Hall Psychiatric Institute in Columbia, Ellis said.

Hodge said her son, an autistic Greenville High student, was a patient at the

institute as recently as last month and that she has been struggling with his

aggressive behavior since his release Feb. 6.

" Now this, " she said tearfully. " He jumps out of an ambulance. I mean, how does

that happen? "

Investigators are trying to answer that, Ellis said. They have collected

evidence, including the straps that were supposed to be holding down Emory.

Emory was strapped to a gurney as the ambulance headed north between s

Road and Interstate 385, Ellis said. He loosened the straps and jumped toward

the door, Ellis said.

A paramedic in the back of the ambulance grabbed Emory by the arm, Ellis said,

but Emory opened the door and jumped out.

Two medics were in the ambulance, one driving and one riding in the back with

Emory, who was not struck by any cars after hitting the ground, Ellis said.

McDougald said the incident happened at 12:43 p.m. and identified the ambulance

driver as Gallagher, 42, of Easley. The ambulance was owned by

Greenville Hospital System, McDougald said.

Sandy Dees, a hospital spokeswoman, said the hospital is fully cooperating with

the investigation and declined further comment.

" Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time, " she said.

Hodge, a pediatric nurse, said she wants her son remembered as " a boy that loved

a lot of people and had a lot of love to give. " He liked to draw and would copy

movie boxes, she said.

While her son needed help, few wanted to give it, Hodge said.

The last six months have been particularly difficult, Hodge said.

Emory became more aggressive, lashing out at relatives and others, she said. He

was in and out of hospitals for fainting spells and his behavior.

Hodge said that when the psychiatric institute released Emory, she protested

plans to send him home.

" I'm like, `He's 250 pounds. I'm afraid for his safety and mine,' " Hodge said.

" And I wrote that on the discharge plan. "

The institute is run by the state Department of Mental Health. Institute

Director Dr. Forand and a department spokeswoman declined to discuss

Emory, saying federal law prohibited them from confirming or denying whether

someone was a patient.

Hodge said she believed her son's troubles went beyond autism and that he needed

a thorough evaluation and to be in a controlled environment with " 24-7 care. "

A state mental health worker told her Emory's needs weren't critical enough, she

said.

Hodge said that before leaving Greenville Memorial, Emory was upset about being

sent back to the institute. He said " I'm not going there " and thrashed about,

she said.

He was sedated for the trip, Hodge said. Why the sedation wasn't enough to keep

him down is remains one of Hodge's many unanswered questions.

Another, she said, is how anyone could take their eyes off of a boy with Emory's

history.

An autopsy is planned for today, Ellis said.

" Somebody dropped the ball on my boy, " Hodge said, " and I don't want any other

families to go through this. "