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Senator Bill Frist Assists at Florida Highway Accident
Aired January 02, 2003 - 14:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An SUV crash in Florida's Alligator Alley, and one of those helping the injured is Bill Frist, a doctor and the newly elected majority leader of the U.S. Senate.
Rescue workers talked to CNN today about the accident. Our Susan Candiotti is live in Broward County, Florida.
Susan, what did they say?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they said that they were very impressed with the kind of work that Senator Bill Frist and about a half dozen other good Samaritans did when they came to the assistance of six people who were injured, one of them fatally, in a roll-over accident on Florida's Alligator Alley, which is also known as I-75.
They all put their skills to use, helping at the scene of an especially violent wreck. Not only Senator Bill Frist, but about five others including a nurse and an off-duty paramedic.
Now Frist, for example, was on the phone with dispatchers, and he helped to stabilize the patients, helped to triage them, telling rescue workers who they should attend to first, depending on the severity of their injuries. And of course, as you know, involving this kind of accident, every second counts.
A 10-year-old girl died at the scene and at least two other young people were injured, three adults, some of them clinging to life because of their injuries.
Broward County fire and air rescue personnel praising the efforts of Senator Frist and the other skilled passers-by who helped.
CAPT. JEFF ANDREWS, BROWARD COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE: It was obvious by the actions that the people that were on my right -- there were three of them to my right -- and it was just obvious by their actions they were familiar with the equipment, they were familiar with the procedure and they were familiar with the anatomy that we were dealing with and what needed to be done.
I mean, we didn't have to say anything to get done, like we do with citizens that aren't trained. It was -- They were doing things just like they were part of the team, all of them were and that's what was really helpful. CANDIOTTI: According to the Florida Highway Patrol, they are looking into several possibilities about what caused this crash. They do know that the driver lost control of the sport utility vehicle, an Isuzu, that tread was lost, did separate from the tire and that they -- the vehicle flipped over several times.
Again, Senator Frist lending a hand as he helped out the victims of this crash.
Now, FHP investigators are looking into whether the tire in this case was part of a Firestone recall. They don't know whether it was, not yet. They're trying to work on that, and even so, they don't know whether that was, again, the cause of the crash.
Senator Frist issued a statement through a spokesman, saying that he did what he felt he would normally do in a situation like this, followed his instincts. And he said that his thoughts and prayers are with the family. He does not intend to speak publicly at this time, in deference to the victims.
Back to you, Carol (sic).
PHILLIPS: Pretty humble attitudes. Susan Candiotti, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 2, 2003 - 14:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An SUV crash in Florida's Alligator Alley, and one of those helping the injured is Bill Frist, a doctor and the newly elected majority leader of the U.S. Senate.
Rescue workers talked to CNN today about the accident. Our Susan Candiotti is live in Broward County, Florida.
Susan, what did they say?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they said that they were very impressed with the kind of work that Senator Bill Frist and about a half dozen other good Samaritans did when they came to the assistance of six people who were injured, one of them fatally, in a roll-over accident on Florida's Alligator Alley, which is also known as I-75.
They all put their skills to use, helping at the scene of an especially violent wreck. Not only Senator Bill Frist, but about five others including a nurse and an off-duty paramedic.
Now Frist, for example, was on the phone with dispatchers, and he helped to stabilize the patients, helped to triage them, telling rescue workers who they should attend to first, depending on the severity of their injuries. And of course, as you know, involving this kind of accident, every second counts.
A 10-year-old girl died at the scene and at least two other young people were injured, three adults, some of them clinging to life because of their injuries.
Broward County fire and air rescue personnel praising the efforts of Senator Frist and the other skilled passers-by who helped.
CAPT. JEFF ANDREWS, BROWARD COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE: It was obvious by the actions that the people that were on my right -- there were three of them to my right -- and it was just obvious by their actions they were familiar with the equipment, they were familiar with the procedure and they were familiar with the anatomy that we were dealing with and what needed to be done.
I mean, we didn't have to say anything to get done, like we do with citizens that aren't trained. It was -- They were doing things just like they were part of the team, all of them were and that's what was really helpful. CANDIOTTI: According to the Florida Highway Patrol, they are looking into several possibilities about what caused this crash. They do know that the driver lost control of the sport utility vehicle, an Isuzu, that tread was lost, did separate from the tire and that they -- the vehicle flipped over several times.
Again, Senator Frist lending a hand as he helped out the victims of this crash.
Now, FHP investigators are looking into whether the tire in this case was part of a Firestone recall. They don't know whether it was, not yet. They're trying to work on that, and even so, they don't know whether that was, again, the cause of the crash.
Senator Frist issued a statement through a spokesman, saying that he did what he felt he would normally do in a situation like this, followed his instincts. And he said that his thoughts and prayers are with the family. He does not intend to speak publicly at this time, in deference to the victims.
Back to you, Carol (sic).
PHILLIPS: Pretty humble attitudes. Susan Candiotti, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
