Re: The oops becomes bigger,NEWS PAPER ARTICLE

[Guest guest]

UPDATE: Woman left for dead dies

Web Posted: 12/18/2007 01:24 AM CST

Chasnoff

Express-News

A Texas State University senior who was presumed dead after a traffic

collision and left unattended in the wreckage for more than two hours in

near-freezing temperatures died of her injuries Monday afternoon, officials

said.

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a N. , 23, was pronounced dead at Army Medical Center at 2

p.m., two hours before Fire Chief Hood held a news conference at which

he refused to accept responsibility for the misdiagnosis of her condition.

— who at the time of the crash was alive, suffering from a head injury

and in critical condition — was left early Sunday without aid at the site,

covered in a yellow tarp, while two others who had been in the same vehicle were

taken to BAMC with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the other car, Ann Ybarra, 28, was taken to University

Hospital for a blood draw and because she had complained of back pain, police

said. Ybarra was later charged with intoxication assault.

It was not known late Monday whether earlier treatment would have saved

's life, or the extent of her injuries when she arrived at the hospital.

But the two-hour lapse between the time of the crash and when finally

received care upset at least one of her relatives.

More coverage KENS video: Crash victim who was left for

dead dies

" It is unfathomable to me that my little cousin sat, bleeding, under a tarp

and in the cold while receiving no medical attention, " wrote McGuire, a

cousin of 's, in an e-mail to an Express-News reporter. " I can't help but

wonder if her injuries would be less severe had she received the prompt medical

treatment she deserved. "

Emergency medical personnel often cite the " golden hour, " the 60 minutes

between a person's critical injury and the moment before the body begins to shut

down.

Hood, standing before a throng of news cameras on Monday, would not say how

the paramedics determined 's condition, saying only that they generally

check for vital signs, which can be compromised in cold weather.

The low temperature on Sunday — the wreck occurred just before 4 a.m. — was 29

degrees.

" The paramedics, when they were doing their job, they didn't think they were

missing anything, " Hood said.

But according to a police officer familiar with the incident, police told

paramedics at least twice that the woman was still breathing.

" They kept telling everybody, 'No, she's not. ... She'll die in a few

minutes,' " said the officer, who requested anonymity because he is not

authorized to speak about the case.

Hood said the incident is under review, and the paramedics involved are

expected to return to work Wednesday for their regular shifts. He said the

review's findings likely would remain confidential in accordance with current

law.

" I don't foresee any discipline for (the paramedics), " Hood said, adding,

" There's nothing to apologize for. We weren't driving the vehicle that hit the

car. "

According to the police report, a team of four paramedics responded to the

head-on collision shortly before 4 a.m. at Loop 410 near Rigsby Road. , in

the front passenger seat of a Honda Accord that police said had been struck by

Ybarra, was covered with a tarp. Assuming she was dead, the medics instead

worked to " save the most savable victims, " Hood said.

A medical examiner's investigator arrived at the scene at 5:14 a.m. Shortly

before 6 a.m., after determining that was not really dead, a second team

of paramedics arrived to treat her, the report said.

Hood, who became chief of the Fire Department in April, said he visited

's family at BAMC for half an hour on Monday to express his sympathy.

" It was difficult, man. I was in tears, " Hood said. " You can't describe the

amount of grief in there. "

Ybarra, the driver of the other vehicle, was released Sunday from Bexar County

Jail after posting $5,000 bond.

Police said Ybarra's gray Pontiac GS veered into an oncoming lane on Loop 410,

striking the Honda Accord. Shaner, 22, the Accord's driver, and backseat

passenger Amber , 22, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

---------------------------------

bchasnoff@... Staff Writer Lomi Kriel contributed to this

report.

Henry Barber wrote: We even cut them slack

sometimes.

Henry

RE: The " oops " becomes bigger

The really great thing about list servers like this is that they allow us to

publically try and convict people without full knowledge of the facts. Maybe

before we jump on the bandwagon seeking heads we should wait and see what

the facts are.

Rinard

>>> Hudson <mhudson@...

<mailto:mhudson%40mesquiteisd.org> > 12/18/2007 9:20 AM >>>

Fire Chief Hood said the department is reviewing the incident, but

he didn't expect the paramedics to be disciplined. He would not specify how

the paramedics checked 's condition but said they generally check for

vital signs.

" The paramedics, when they were doing their job, they didn't think they were

missing anything, " Hood said.

-Hey look what a firefighters union can do for YOU!!!!!! -

-MH

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