By Leila Merrill
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — At least six people were transported to hospitals in helicopters, and 30 others were transported in ambulances this past weekend during Jeep “Go Topless” Weekend at Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula.
EMS providers were responding to calls related to the annual event in which jeep enthusiasts show off their vehicles. It is known for drawing crowds that can be rowdy.
The accounts vary as to the number of people transported by air. Fox West Texas says eight people were transported, while 12 News Now says the number was six.
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The area’s 911 dispatchers received more than 400 calls this past weekend in Galveston County.
Dozens of people were arrested. Thirty of the arrests were alcohol-related, Sheriff Henry Trochesset said.
“We’ve had several life flights, three people were life-flighted on Friday night,” Trochesset said. “In last night’s head-on collision on Gilchrist, the vehicle was on fire, the driver was extracted, they started CPR and life-flighted her.”
A Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputy was among those transported by helicopter. Sgt. John Hamm was responding to a vehicle crash when he was hit by a suspected drunk driver, the Galveston Daily News reported. He sustained a head injury, broken arms and compound fractures in one leg.
Galveston County Emergency Services District No. 2 experienced such a high call volume Saturday night, that it received mutual aid from multiple nearby agencies.
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