Manitoba woman called 911 after fiery crash, had to give story 3 times while waiting to give first aid | CBC News (2024)

Ian Froese · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 09, 2024 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 9

A Winnipeg womanforced to report the story three times after calling 911 about aserious head-on collision in northern Manitobais frustrated thatrepetition is considered standard procedure by the people in charge of responding to emergencies.

JenneferLarsen spent 14 minutes on the phone Monday, answering some of the same questions from three different individuals,while around her, a vehicle was on fireand frenzied bystanders rushedto pull people out of their vehicles and provide care.

Larsenwas the first person to call 911 Monday following ahead-on collision on Highway 6,approximately 40 kilometres south of Grand Rapids,that claimed two lives and injured five others.

She was a passenger in a vehicle that was travelling directly behind thecollisioninvolving a SUV and minivan, which happened around 3:45 p.m.

Larsen said she was desperate to put her first aid training touse, but was stuck on the phone longer than expected.

"Witheach transfer and repetition during the 911 call, there's a growing frustration thatI'veprovided this information,"said Larsen,who is married to a CBC Manitoba employee.

"The more Icould be doing right now requires that I not be on the phone and that I be actively first aiding."

A frantic scene

While tied up on the phone, Larsen said other bystanders were scrambling to ensure everybody's safety.She told one of the people she spoke withthatone personwas trapped.

"I did several times try to communicate to them that the car was on fire, which had me very concerned that there was not a lot of time perhaps to deal with this situation," saidLarsen.

A police vehicle patrolling Highway 6 ultimatelycame across the crash before any of the dispatched emergency responders arrived.

Police saya23-year-old woman in the front passenger seatof the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. She's been identified by Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation as Marybelle Yetman, a "wonderful mother of two beautiful girls and a handsome son," as well as a devoted partner. Her family has requested privacy at this time, Chief Angela Levasseur said.

Two other passengers in that vehicle, and the 23-year-old mandriving, hadnon-life threatening injuries.

A 42-year-old woman in the minivan's front passenger seatwas rushed to a nursing station, where she died. Another passenger and the 54-year-old man who was drivinghad non-life-threatening injuries.

RCMP believe the SUV crossed the centre line into the minivan's path, but the investigation is ongoing. Nocharges have been laid.

Given the seriousness of thecollision, Larsen said she was most frustrated she had to giveher location three times. She said itwas difficult todescribe her whereaboutsbecause she was on a remote stretch of highway withfew obvious landmarks.

"I asked them, can you use the GPS on my phone?"

Turns out, they couldn't.Larsen'sposition wasn't traceable because she was calling from an area of Manitoba notcovered by 911 service.

If someone calls 911 in those locations, such asLarsen did, the call is usually taken by an operator service, saidRobert Stewart, whoruns Manitoba's 911 centre based in Brandon(Winnipeg has a separate 911 service).

Stewart said the operatortransferred Larsentothe provincial 911 dispatch centre, which asked questions todispatch firefighting crews, and then directed her to the Medical Transportation Coordination Centre, which asked questions todispatch ambulance crews.

Through it all, Stewart said theagencies were sharing information between themselves. The 911 centre was speaking withthe fire department in under three minutes, hesaid.

"Talking to us is not slowing down the response at all. In fact, when we have a general location—we know it's Highway 6, for example, south of Grand Rapids — that's enough for us to get help started."

Still, hesympathizes withemergency callers who feel they're repeating themselves unnecessarily, but hesaid each agency is doing their due diligence.

"All of that information they're getting is necessary to make sure the crews get there, the crews are bringing the right equipment to the scene and that they're getting there as absolutely fast as possible."

The RCMP, which is also involved in some 911 dispatch calls, stressed it asks as much information as is required.

But Larsen questions if the repetition is necessary, when information is already being shared betweenagencies.

"Therecould be circ*mstances where the person on the phone is the only person on site, could be involved in the incident and injured themselves," she said.

"Every minute counts, and Ithink it's important to get to the critical information and decision points faster."

Municipalities pay for 911 service

In Manitoba, communities and First Nations mustopt into the 911 system operated by the City of Brandon, which costs $4.88 per person per year. This head-on collision happened in an unincorporated area that hasn't signed up for the service, Stewart said.

A majority of Manitoba's population lives in an area with 911 service, but the coverage area is less than 50 per cent of the province geographically, a Brandon spokespersonsaid.

Stewart said technological advancements will make it easier for911 systems to locate callers. All emergency serviceproviders in the country have been asked toupgrade their systems to a digital network.

Those improvements could address some complaints around service gaps, Stewart said.

The Manitoba government initiated a 911 review in Aprilto advance"broader and more effective 911 coverage." A final report is expected in the coming months, a spokesperson said.

Larsen said in an interview earlier this week she's still processing what she witnessed at the crash site. She was among the bystanders whospent around two hours providing care, cleaning andbandaging wounds and trying to keep everyone calm.

"When you do spend that much timeproviding first aid,you feel connected to the people that you're providing that care to," she said. "They're just in my thoughts a lot right now."

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