FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — A Fayette County family claims their pleas for help went unanswered as a loved one died waiting for an ambulance, with their 911 call routed to a station over 30 minutes away despite a closer station being available.
“I said to her, ‘Please send me Confluence Ambulance, because my mom is still warm,” Elizabeth Metheney told KDKA, recalling the Dec. 21 call for her 73-year-old mother Kay, who had stopped breathing.
“I kept telling her, ‘They’re 3 miles from me, please,’ and I couldn’t get her to get me help,” she continued.
Due to a boundary line, Fayette EMS is designated to serve Metheney’s area, despite the closer proximity of Confluence EMS in Somerset.
Henry Clay Township supervisors said they are not responsible, but Fayette EMS and 911 disagree, KDKA reported.
According to Pennsylvania law, townships must ensure fire and EMS coverage within their boundaries. Fayette County 911 said municipalities provide them with the designated providers, which they dispatch.
The Fayette EMS chief and assistant chief expressed willingness to collaborate with Somerset EMS to divide Henry Clay Township for faster response times but declined to commit to dual responses.
“We’re very sorry for the patient’s passing in this case. However, dual responses for every call would strain resources for residents in Fayette and Somerset counties,” Fayette Assistant EMS Chief Matt McKnight said.
Both EMS agencies believe it’s the township’s responsibility to decide who responds in emergencies.
Since the news investigation, Fayette EMS, Somerset EMS, township supervisors and both 911 agencies met to discuss improving coverage for the lower section of Henry Clay Township.
They agreed to reassign that area to Somerset EMS. The township plans to formalize the change with a resolution at next month’s meeting. If Somerset EMS is unavailable, Fayette EMS and Markleysburg’s quick response team will handle 911 calls instead.
