Saturday, May 26, 2007

** Washington police charge woman for running down EMT

** Licences of two Nevada medics pulled

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Washington police have charged a 24-year-old woman with vehicular assault after she struck an EMT at roadside Sunday. The Seattle Times (May 24) said Susan G. Rees, who could soon be out on $150,000 bail, had a blood alcohol level of .22 following the accident. The amount is more than twice the legal driving limit. According to police, Rees hit the shoulder on Interstate 5 around 1:30 a.m. striking medic David Marston who was standing beside the unit at the time. Marston suffered both internal injuries and a broken leg.

** Two Pahrump, Nevada EMS workers have had their licences suspended, after falsely declaring a live patient dead. The Las Vegas Review (May 24) said EMT Rodd Fernandes and paramedic Carrol L. Meeks were stripped of their credentials in relation to a November 24, 2006 call. During the response, the duo did not treat head wound gunshot victim Linus Wendler until a police officer noticed a pulse. The two were then ordered to begin treatment, but Wendler died. Formal charges have not yet been laid, but both practitioners were booked on felony criminal neglect of a patient and felony neglect of an older person. The duo was fired from their job in April. Wendler’s estate is also suing.