Medics disciplined over untreated woman who later died

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SAN ANTONIO — The certifications of three San paramedics who responded

to a traffic collision in which a severely wounded but still-breathing victim

was left untreated for hours have been suspended for six months by a state

agency.

The victim, a , 23, was eventually taken to a hospital, where she

later died.

The Texas Department of State Health Services suspended the certifications of

Mike Gardner, Bullock and Huntsman beginning Sept. 13, the San

Express-News reported on Wednesday.

After the six-month suspension, they will enter a probation period of another

six months.

The agency had considered suspending the paramedics' certification for one

year but reassessed after meeting with them and discussing the fatal crash. The

agency also withdrew a proposed reprimand to a fourth paramedic,

.

, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the paramedics were

cooperative and had no previous disciplinary records.

Deputy Fire Chief ez said Tuesday the collision and its aftermath

prompted changes in how the fire department trains paramedics, including a

protocol that at least two emergency responders check for a patient's pulse

before pronouncing the patient dead.

Early on Dec. 16, 2007, a Pontiac GS driven by Ann Ybarra, of Seguin,

veered into oncoming traffic on Loop 410 and collided with a Honda Accord in

which was the front-seat passenger. The Honda Accord driver, who police

said was intoxicated, and a passenger in the back seat both had minor injuries.

Ybarra was indicted in June on charges of intoxication manslaughter and

intoxication assault.

, her brain exposed, was left untreated in the Accord. The state agency

in part accused Gardner of failing to check for her vital signs even after he

saw her move.

and Gardner left the scene, and Bullock and Huntsman returned after a

medical examiner's investigator noticed that still was breathing. The

state agency in part accused Huntsman and Bullock of not checking 's vital

signs.

Setzer EMT-B