Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

[Guest guest]

Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

<mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in February is

planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the emergency

procedure that reportedly caused his death.

Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the autopsy told

her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries as a

result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

windshield on Feb. 25.

Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy - which should

have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration " that

caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

" They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone interview

last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was released. " It is

sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR, an air

ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking over from

American Medical Response.

However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who took him

to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in ' neck made

by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the success of

the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he believes

the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the cause of

death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid; however, they

are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be either

" EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of the body,

does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length, that

" completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the upper

trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is about 2

centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx approximately

three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

" therapeutic misadventure. "

Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for ' death,

and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for litigation.

left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said. The

couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

" We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, " Fonseca said.

was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16 just west

of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera installed in

the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before the bus

ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the bus was

traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and went off

the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four miles west of

Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a field.

was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and one

reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

Fonseca told investigators that had recently been experiencing severe

headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while driving the bus

was caused by a medical condition.

Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A toxicology

examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances were deemed

related to his death.

[Guest guest]

I'm confused -- perhaps it's because I'm not a " coroner " . How is it

possible for a coroner to determine that he " would not have died from

any injuries as a result of the bus accident that threw him out of the

driver's side windshield " . It seems to me that if there was sufficient

airway compromise to be considering a cricothyrotomy - that this guy

wasn't too good starting off?

How would a physician be able to prove in court that he wouldn't have died?

Just curious...

Bledsoe, DO wrote:

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

> <mailto:clee@...

>

<mailto:clee%40dailydemocrat.com>?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy - which

> should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration " that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR, an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in ' neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

> cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid; however,

> they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length, that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for ' death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said. The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, " Fonseca

> said.

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

> just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

> installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

> went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four miles

> west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a field.

>

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been experiencing

> severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while driving

> the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances were

> deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

[Guest guest]

We have a lawsuit-minded 'girlfriend / mother of child' for 16 years, a 'slit

throat' (dontcha just love it) and I guess it's pretty normal for California bus

drivers to not have medical records available and for them to be driving around

with COCAINE in their systems.

Why does this sound like a typical California deal...

" A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the

simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. " Proverbs 22:3

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

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

If you had read the message you forwarded, which came from Flightweb, the

coroner clearly describes a second wound from the glass-separate and

distinct from the alleged surgical misadventure:

" The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

There is a common theme here. Flight medicine care, which was once superb,

has been diluted to a point where it differs little from ground care as

evidenced by the two cases of unrecognized esophageal intubation following

RSI by the same helicopter company here in Texas and this airway case from

California.

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of jcobbfpc

Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 1:18 PM

To: texasems-l

Subject: Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mr. Bledsoe,

I am not surprised by your statement of " a common theme here...with Flight

medicine care being diluted...etc " as it has become your mainstay to make

statements of fact or summation without the support of evidence. It is

surprising to me that you would make these statements without the knowledge of

the facts, or evidence to support them. For you to intimate that the flight crew

in this case is somehow dilute clinically?from a very questionable media article

is just as irresponsible as the reporter who makes similar innuendoes.

As previously mentioned you have done this throughout your career and would ask

you to consider how you handle the situation should the roles be reversed and

you were brought to a kangaroo court in public at the media's hands and a

physician with an agenda?

Chris

Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mr. (rwfltmedic):

First, I write extensively and reference what I write more than others.

Second, I have information about the case not contained in the media report

(I just got back from California). Third, I was consulted as an expert

witness for the 2 cases here in Texas (I turned one down because I knew the

paramedic involved). What is my agenda? Improved EMS? Improved flight

medical care? Safer flight medicine? Better use of resources? Better pay for

paramedics (flight and ground). How self-serving. I'll bet I have more hours

overall working in a helicopter than you do.

I don't live for titles. Call me what you want.

Mr. Bledsoe

PS. I am awaiting word whether a friend of mine was killed last night in

the Madison helicopter crash. I know a surgeon was on board and this friend

flies occasionally. I know what I write about. Do you?

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of rwfltmedic@...

Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:30 AM

To: texasems-l

Subject: Re: Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Mr. Bledsoe,

I am not surprised by your statement of " a common theme here...with Flight

medicine care being diluted...etc " as it has become your mainstay to make

statements of fact or summation without the support of evidence. It is

surprising to me that you would make these statements without the knowledge

of the facts, or evidence to support them. For you to intimate that the

flight crew in this case is somehow dilute clinically?from a very

questionable media article is just as irresponsible as the reporter who

makes similar innuendoes.

As previously mentioned you have done this throughout your career and would

ask you to consider how you handle the situation should the roles be

reversed and you were brought to a kangaroo court in public at the media's

hands and a physician with an agenda?

Chris

Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

You are the last guy that needs to defend ones self.

LNM

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/11/2008 7:11:53 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

lpmedic2000@... writes:

Will the day ever come when truth becomes more important than turf?

Not in EMS or so it seems.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

(Home Phone)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

(IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

" Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds

discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family

favorites at AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)

[Guest guest]

I personally worked on one case in Texas, a different one from the ones Dr.

Bledsoe references, and in it the flight nurse placed an ETT into a patient's

esophagus, failed to confirm tube placement, failed to use ETCO2 even though it

was available, rationalized changing SaO2 readings and pulse rate, and flew

the patient for at least 18 minutes before the paramedic finally pulled the

tube and inserted a Combitube. The patient, whose only injury was a fracture

of

one of the metatarsals in his right foot, wound up with a permanent,

devastating brain injury. Further, the flight crew completely failed to assess

the

patient prior to RSI and intubation. If they had, they would have known that

he did not need to be intubated nor by the farthest stretch of the imagination

did he need to be flown. He was flown because of the immaturity of both the

ground and air crews. The " romance and drama " of the situation overtook

common sense and good medical practice.

Both those crew members, BTW, are still flying and neither suffered any

disciplinary action whatsoever.

All this is public record. If you would like to have the case number and

citation, I'll send it to you and you can obtain the records yourself.

Is this typical of flight crews? Not typical, but sadly not unheard of. I

have a lot of experience working with flight crews, have worked with many

flight medics and nurses, and I have heard their expressions of horror about

some

of the failings of their colleagues. I have seen them refuse to fly with

certain other crew members or fly with a certain pilot.

I have seen the differences in the quality of one air service vs. another,

and I have myself told dispatch NEVER to ask for service from a particular

company, because its equipment was worn out and poorly maintained, and its

quality

assurance was nonexistent.

I understand your defensive stance, but the facts are there for all to see.

There is much difference in quality among air med companies and crews.

Quality control varies from slim to great, depending upon the service.

Helicopters are used much too often. There is scant, if any, evidence that

the smell of diesel coupled with a ride in a flying shoebox improves patient

care.

Around here in AZ helos are used when ground transport would be faster.

They are used to transport patients who are released from the hospital before

the

bird gets cleaned up and refueled.

We are emotionally involved in the drama and romance of flight. A couple of

forced landings, one while over the Gulf of Mexico cured me of that.

There is a place for rotorwing transport, but is a very small place. The

risk/benefit curve is heavily in favor of risk. We need to grow up and think

about our patients, not our fascination with helicopters.

Gene Gandy

>

> Mr. (rwfltmedic)M

>

> First, I write extensively and reference what I write more than others.

> Second, I have information about the case not contained in the media report

> (I just got back from California). Third, I was consulted as an expert

> witness for the 2 cases here in Texas (I turned one down because I knew the

> paramedic involved). What is my agenda? Improved EMS? Improved flight

> medical care? Safer flight medicine? Better use of resources? Better pay for

> paramedics (flight and ground). How self-serving. I'll bet I have more hours

> overall working in a helicopter than you do.

>

> I don't live for titles. Call me what you want.

>

> Mr. Bledsoe

>

> PS. I am awaiting word whether a friend of mine was killed last night in

> the Madison helicopter crash. I know a surgeon was on board and this friend

> flies occasionally. I know what I write about. Do you?

>

> From: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem [mailto:texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem] On

> Behalf Of rwfltmedic@...

> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:30 AM

> To: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem

> Subject: Re: Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

> Mr. Bledsoe,

>

> I am not surprised by your statement of " a common theme here...with Flight

> medicine care being diluted...etc " as it has become your mainstay to make

> statements of fact or summation without the support of evidence. It is

> surprising to me that you would make these statements without the knowledge

> of the facts, or evidence to support them. For you to intimate that the

> flight crew in this case is somehow dilute clinically?from a very

> questionable media article is just as irresponsible as the reporter who

> makes similar innuendoes.

>

> As previously mentioned you have done this throughout your career and would

> ask you to consider how you handle the situation should the roles be

> reversed and you were brought to a kangaroo court in public at the media's

> hands and a physician with an agenda?

>

> Chris

>

> Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

> Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

> states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> >

> >

> > Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

> >

> >

> > Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

> >

> >

> > <mailto:clee@mailto:clee@mailto:clee@<wbrmailto:clemailto:clee

> > 20report%20details% 20report%20d 20report% 20repor> By CRYSTAL LEE

> >

> > Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

> February is

> > planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

> emergency

> > procedure that reportedly caused his death.

> >

> > Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

> autopsy told

> > her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

> as a

> > result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> > windshield on Feb. 25.

> >

> > Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

> which should

> > have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

> that

> > caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

> >

> > " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

> interview

> > last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

> released. " It is

> > sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

> >

> > The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

> an air

> > ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

> over from

> > American Medical Response.

> >

> > However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

> >

> > CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

> took him

> > to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> > helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

> >

> > CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

> neck made

> > by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

> success of

> > the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

> believes

> > the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

> cause of

> > death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

> >

> > CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

> however, they

> > are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

> either

> > " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

> >

> > The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

> the body,

> > does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

> that

> > " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

> upper

> > trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

> >

> > The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

> about 2

> > centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

> approximately

> > three-quarters of the way around the circumference. t

> >

> > The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> > " therapeutic misadventure. "

> >

> > Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

> death,

> > and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

> litigation.

> >

> > left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

> The

> > couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

> >

> > " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

> Fonseca said.

> >

> >

> > was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

> just west

> > of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> > According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

> installed in

> > the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

> the bus

> > ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

> >

> > According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

> bus was

> > traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

> went off

> > the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

> miles west of

> > Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

> field.

> > was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

> >

> > There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

> one

> > reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

> >

> > Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

> experiencing severe

> > headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

> driving the bus

> > was caused by a medical condition.

> >

> > Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

> toxicology

> > examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

> were deemed

> > related to his death.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I remember Mr. Bledson. Just trying to remember if it came from a flight

medic or a CISM coordinator.

-Wes Ogilvie

In a message dated 5/11/2008 8:12:23 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

preyn2@... writes:

First, a question: Who wrote the Paramedic textbook that rwfltmedic studied

in his class? I realize there are a few authors, but even if your class

didn't use DOCTOR Bledsoe's text, I would expect that a Paramedic class worth

the name would at least make other books available as occasional references.

Second, a statement: His name is not Mr. Bledsoe, it's Mr. Bledson, with an

N. Get it right.

[Am I dating myself if I'm in on that joke? How long has THAT been? lol]

Phil Reynolds Jr.

115 Harold Dr.

Burnet, TX., 78611

HP

CP (512) 844-7023

__________________________________________________________

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

_http://mobile.http://mobhttp://mobile.<Whttp://mobile.<Wht_

(http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ)

[Guest guest]

Colloquialism rules. God help this profession, and God help - -

whoever s/he is. God help his/her patients.

Will the day ever come when truth becomes more important than turf?

- Larry -

> >

> >

> > Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

> >

> >

> > Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

> >

> >

> > <mailto:clee@?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> > 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

> >

> > Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

> February is

> > planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

> emergency

> > procedure that reportedly caused his death.

> >

> > Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

> autopsy told

> > her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

> as a

> > result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> > windshield on Feb. 25.

> >

> > Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

> which should

> > have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

> that

> > caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

> >

> > " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

> interview

> > last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

> released. " It is

> > sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

> >

> > The coroner's report states that emergency responders for

CALSTAR,

> an air

> > ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

> over from

> > American Medical Response.

> >

> > However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

> >

> > CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

> took him

> > to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in

the

> > helicopter without an established airway, according to the

report.

> >

> > CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

> neck made

> > by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

> success of

> > the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

> believes

> > the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing

the

> cause of

> > death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

> >

> > CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

> however, they

> > are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

> either

> > " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

> >

> > The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

> the body,

> > does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in

length,

> that

> > " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of

the

> upper

> > trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

> >

> > The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

> about 2

> > centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

> approximately

> > three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

> >

> > The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> > " therapeutic misadventure. "

> >

> > Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for

'

> death,

> > and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

> litigation.

> >

> > left behind three children and four grandchildren, she

said.

> The

> > couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

> >

> > " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

> Fonseca said.

> >

> >

> > was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway

16

> just west

> > of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb.

25.

> > According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

> installed in

> > the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly

before

> the bus

> > ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the

vehicle.

> >

> > According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

> bus was

> > traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south,

and

> went off

> > the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

> miles west of

> > Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

> field.

> > was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

> >

> > There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident

and

> one

> > reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

> >

> > Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

> experiencing severe

> > headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

> driving the bus

> > was caused by a medical condition.

> >

> > Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

> toxicology

> > examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

> were deemed

> > related to his death.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

First, a question:  Who wrote the Paramedic textbook that rwfltmedic studied in

his class?  I realize there are a few authors, but even if your class didn't use

DOCTOR Bledsoe's text, I would expect that a Paramedic class worth the name

would at least make other books available as occasional references.

Second, a statement:  His name is not Mr. Bledsoe, it's Mr. Bledson, with an N. 

Get it right.

[Am I dating myself if I'm in on that joke?  How long has THAT been?  lol]

 Phil Reynolds Jr.

115 Harold Dr.

Burnet, TX., 78611

HP

CP

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Guest guest]

Phil , we all know you are old no need to date ones self.

Yes, the pot has called the kettle black.

LNM

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

Re: Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

First, a question:  Who wrote the Paramedic textbook that rwfltmedic studied in

his class?  I realize there are a few authors, but even if your class didn't use

DOCTOR Bledsoe's text, I would expect that a Paramedic class worth the name

would at least make other books available as occasional references.

Second, a statement:  His name is not Mr. Bledsoe, it's Mr. Bledson, with an N. 

Get it right.

[Am I dating myself if I'm in on that joke?  How long has THAT been?  lol]

 Phil Reynolds Jr.

115 Harold Dr.

Burnet, TX., 78611

HP

CP

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Be a better friend, newshound, and

know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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

[Guest guest]

I for one would not be confused as someone who has always accepted everything

Dr. Bledsoe has always claimed or spoke on.? However, on this particular topic,

you are off target.?

Here is how I will compare it....10 or 15 years ago, with just a few air medical

companies around the state...the BEST of the BEST worked air medical.? It was

something many strived for because if you made it, you really were an elite

medic....

Now a days, when you can walk from San to Dallas on rotor

blades...(insert editorial comment here) and with a degradation of paramedic

training...the level of people who are accepted by flight programs is diluted

because you have to have more people.

Here is what I compare it to....a few years ago, there were like 18 or 20

professional baseball teams...and to become a pro, you really had to be able to

play baseball...now with 30 teams, there is a lower bar for professional

baseball player than there was 30 years ago...back 15 years ago when there were

50 flight medic positions in the whole state, wow...it took something to get on

board...but today, with 500 positions, many places take what they can get.

Dudley

Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

>

> Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

>

>

> <mailto:clee@...?subject=Daily%20Democrat%20Online:%20Autopsy%

> 20report%20details%20death%20of%20Yolobus%20driver> By CRYSTAL LEE

>

> Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

>

>

>

>

>

> The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

February is

> planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

emergency

> procedure that reportedly caused his death.

>

> Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

autopsy told

> her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

as a

> result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> windshield on Feb. 25.

>

> Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

which should

> have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

that

> caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

>

> " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

interview

> last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

released. " It is

> sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

>

> The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

an air

> ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

over from

> American Medical Response.

>

> However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

>

> CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

took him

> to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

>

> CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

neck made

> by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

success of

> the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

believes

> the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

cause of

> death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

>

> CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

however, they

> are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

either

> " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

>

> The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

the body,

> does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

that

> " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

upper

> trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

>

> The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

about 2

> centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

approximately

> three-quarters of the way around the circumference. "

>

> The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> " therapeutic misadventure. "

>

> Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

death,

> and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

litigation.

>

> left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

The

> couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

>

> " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

Fonseca said.

>

>

> was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

just west

> of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

installed in

> the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

the bus

> ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

>

> According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

bus was

> traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

went off

> the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

miles west of

> Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

field.

> was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

>

> There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

one

> reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

>

> Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

experiencing severe

> headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

driving the bus

> was caused by a medical condition.

>

> Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

toxicology

> examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

were deemed

> related to his death.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gene,

Very well put.? It is a hard road to hoe convincing people that flying folks is

not the solution to all our problems.? We have been very successful here,

although we are not completely there.?

We fly less that 0.1% of our responses.? Year to date, that is 3 flights for

3,500 responses.? 2 of these had helicopters on the ground, engines off awaiting

patients to get extricated from vehicles, the third was a patient who was

released from the ED in under 12 hours with abrasions and contusions. We have

done a number of things to help our crews make better decisions:

1.? Educate them on patient assessment and truly what air medical can do that we

cannot.

2.? Give feedback on patients that are flown, to close the loop on the decisions

that were made.

3.? Time trials conducted by a supervisor in a separate response vehicle leaving

the scene non-emergency?when the patient could be driven away (in the back of

the ambulance, secured, and just doing interventions (IV, O2, Monitor, etc)) and

driving non-emergency to our closest Level I trauma center to see how long they

have to wait for the helicopter to land.? In our area, the supervisor has yet to

be beat by the helicopter, and the longest they have had to wait has been 13

minutes.? Add to that the time it takes once the helicopter gets on the

ground...because at this facility, the patient has to be unloaded out of the

helicopter, into a facility ambulance, and then driven 200+ yards to the ED and

unloaded again.? 3 - 5 minutes easy.

4.? Work with our medics to increase their confidence in their abilities and in

their assessment skills.? In trauma, it is pretty easy to determine if your

patient is sick or not...and despite what many believe...a patient who received

a head blow, was originally unconscious, but is now AA & OX3, with normal vital

signs and asking repetitive questions is not a candidate for a helicopter...at

least in our system.

Now, this being said, helicopters have their place but the increased presence of

numerous air medical services actively competing against each other is

preventing many air medical services from placing their aircraft in these

areas...instead they are being forced to place them in inappropriate areas to

" cut-off " the competitors and to protect their traditional territory areas.? If

only there were enough flights in these rural and frontier areas to justify a

helicopter placed in the outlying area...of course that would bring 3 or4 of

them and not just one.

Here is an example, around SA, there is a helicopter in a neighboring city

despite the fact that the 911 agency in that town is less than 30 minutes from a

Level 1 trauma center....and now, the announcement that another " neighboring "

city to SA with a population of 22,000 is now going to have 2 helicopters

stationed in it.? Seems a little duplicative to me.

Dudley

PS: I got very serious about this after two separate incidents of bad airway

situations in which we sat in the back of an ambulance with a flight crew for

longer than it would have taken to drive to the Trauma Center...btw, we?now have

a protocol for driving to the?hospital with the flight crew on board if need be

to prevent further incidents like these.

Re: Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

>

> Be sure you post the follow up report off of the flight web that

> states the patients throat was already " SLIT " due to the windshield.

>

>

> >

> >

> > Autopsy report details death of Yolobus driver

> >

> >

> > Longtime girlfriend claims responders 'slit his throat'

> >

> >

> > <mailto:clee@mailto:clee@mailto:clee@<wbrmailto:clemailto:clee

> > 20report%20details% 20report%20d 20report% 20repor> By CRYSTAL LEE

> >

> > Article Created: 05/07/2008 08:17:38 AM PDT

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > The longtime girlfriend of a Woodland bus driver who died in

> February is

> > planning to file a lawsuit against those who administered the

> emergency

> > procedure that reportedly caused his death.

> >

> > Antoinette Fonseca claims the Yolo County coroner who did the

> autopsy told

> > her that Quintin , 48, would not have died from any injuries

> as a

> > result of the bus accident that threw him out of the driver's side

> > windshield on Feb. 25.

> >

> > Instead, an incision made in ' neck, or a cricothyrotomy -

> which should

> > have aided his breathing - resulted in " massive blood aspiration "

> that

> > caused his death, according to the coroner's report.

> >

> > " They almost cut his windpipe in half, " Fonseca said in a phone

> interview

> > last Thursday, two days after the coroner's report was

> released. " It is

> > sick, is what it is. ... He died because they slit his throat. "

> >

> > The coroner's report states that emergency responders for CALSTAR,

> an air

> > ambulance company, performed the medical procedure after taking

> over from

> > American Medical Response.

> >

> > However, after " multiple unsuccessful airway attempts, "

> >

> > CALSTAR relinquished authority over to AMR technicians, who

> took him

> > to Woodland Memorial Hospital, because he could not be taken in the

> > helicopter without an established airway, according to the report.

> >

> > CALSTAR President ph F. Cook said that an incision in '

> neck made

> > by a piece of glass from the shattered windshield inhibited the

> success of

> > the cricothyrotomy and was a factor in ' death. Cook said he

> believes

> > the coroner misinterpreted the autopsy findings in attributing the

> cause of

> > death to the cricothyrotomy incision.

> >

> > CALSTAR staff are trained in providing emergency medical aid;

> however, they

> > are considered " nurses. " The are not formally considered to be

> either

> > " EMTs, " or " paramedics. "

> >

> > The autopsy report, which documents in detail the examination of

> the body,

> > does indicate an additional wound, about 2-3 centimeters in length,

> that

> > " completely perforates the right lateral and posterior wall of the

> upper

> > trachea at about the first and second tracheal ring level. "

> >

> > The autopsy report also notes that the cricothyrotomy incision is

> about 2

> > centimeters in length and " extends through the lower larynx

> approximately

> > three-quarters of the way around the circumference. t

> >

> > The report classifies the manner of death as an " accident " and a

> > " therapeutic misadventure. "

> >

> > Fonseca said she believes several people are responsible for '

> death,

> > and she has hired an attorney and begun the procedures for

> litigation.

> >

> > left behind three children and four grandchildren, she said.

> The

> > couple had been dating for 16 years and had one child together.

> >

> > " We're all having a really, really, really hard time with it, "

> Fonseca said.

> >

> >

> > was a Yolobus driver and was operating his bus on Highway 16

> just west

> > of Woodland when the accident occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 25.

> > According to reports from passengers and footage from a camera

> installed in

> > the bus, grabbed his head and began screaming shortly before

> the bus

> > ran off the road, struck a pole and he was thrown from the vehicle.

> >

> > According to California Highway Patrol Officer Curtis Reese, the

> bus was

> > traveling east at about 35 mph. The bus veered right, or south, and

> went off

> > the roadway just west of the Wildwings subdivision, about four

> miles west of

> > Woodland, where it struck a power pole and continued on into a

> field.

> > was thrown from the bus when it came to a stop.

> >

> > There were 10 passengers on the bus at the time of the accident and

> one

> > reportedly sustained a minor cut. All others were uninjured.

> >

> > Fonseca told investigators that had recently been

> experiencing severe

> > headaches; however, it is unclear whether his reaction while

> driving the bus

> > was caused by a medical condition.

> >

> > Investigators were unable to locate ' medical history. A

> toxicology

> > examination found some cocaine in his system, but no substances

> were deemed

> > related to his death.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >