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American Morning
Frist Aids Family in Crash
Aired January 02, 2003 - 09:03 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Incoming Senate majority leader and doctor, Bill Frist came to the rescue of six people who were hurt when their SUV rolled over on a Florida highway. Officials say that Frist provided invaluable help aiding victims along with emergency personnel.
Susan Candiotti has the latest in Fort Lauderdale. Good morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. You know, fire rescue officials say it is not at all uncommon for people with medical experience who pass by accident scenes to stop by and lend a hand. And, in fact, that's what Senator Bill Frist did. And he wasn't the only one. But according to fire rescue, he was someone that took charge. He not only called 911 and talked with dispatchers, but once paramedics and other rescue personnel arrived on scene, he was also helping to triage or prioritize the patients according to their injuries and even help administer some medication. Unfortunately, a 10-year-old girl died at the scene and five others were injured, some of them critically, despite all the help that rescue personnel were able to give.
Now, a spokesman issued a statement on behalf of Senator Bill Frist in which he said that he was very thankful to be able to offer his assistance. He did what he felt he had to do. And he added that his heart goes out to the family, as he said, especially at this time of the year, to start out the new year's, as he put it, with this type of terrible tragedy.
Now, meantime, as far as the cause of the accident, the Florida Highway Patrol investigators are still trying to nail that down. They do know that the tread separated on the tire and that the driver lost control of the SUV and that it flipped over several times.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN BAGNARDI, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: We know, of course, that the tire make, it's been widely known that it's a Firestone Wilderness AT tire. It doesn't necessarily mean that that's the cause of the crash. We don't know yet. Our investigators have not looked into whether it's a recalled -- in the batch of recalled tires. But, they, of course, are aware of that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Broward County air rescue and fire rescue personnel plan on holding a news conference later this day to talk about what happened at the accident scene, including the work of good Samaritan, Senator Bill Frist. Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Susan Candiotti from Fort Lauderdale. Susan, 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 - 09:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Incoming Senate majority leader and doctor, Bill Frist came to the rescue of six people who were hurt when their SUV rolled over on a Florida highway. Officials say that Frist provided invaluable help aiding victims along with emergency personnel.
Susan Candiotti has the latest in Fort Lauderdale. Good morning.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. You know, fire rescue officials say it is not at all uncommon for people with medical experience who pass by accident scenes to stop by and lend a hand. And, in fact, that's what Senator Bill Frist did. And he wasn't the only one. But according to fire rescue, he was someone that took charge. He not only called 911 and talked with dispatchers, but once paramedics and other rescue personnel arrived on scene, he was also helping to triage or prioritize the patients according to their injuries and even help administer some medication. Unfortunately, a 10-year-old girl died at the scene and five others were injured, some of them critically, despite all the help that rescue personnel were able to give.
Now, a spokesman issued a statement on behalf of Senator Bill Frist in which he said that he was very thankful to be able to offer his assistance. He did what he felt he had to do. And he added that his heart goes out to the family, as he said, especially at this time of the year, to start out the new year's, as he put it, with this type of terrible tragedy.
Now, meantime, as far as the cause of the accident, the Florida Highway Patrol investigators are still trying to nail that down. They do know that the tread separated on the tire and that the driver lost control of the SUV and that it flipped over several times.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN BAGNARDI, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: We know, of course, that the tire make, it's been widely known that it's a Firestone Wilderness AT tire. It doesn't necessarily mean that that's the cause of the crash. We don't know yet. Our investigators have not looked into whether it's a recalled -- in the batch of recalled tires. But, they, of course, are aware of that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Broward County air rescue and fire rescue personnel plan on holding a news conference later this day to talk about what happened at the accident scene, including the work of good Samaritan, Senator Bill Frist. Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Susan Candiotti from Fort Lauderdale. Susan, 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
