By Erin Fuchs and Kelli Gauthier
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Copyright 2007 Chattanooga Publishing Company
HAMILITON COUNTY, Tenn. — Two wrong addresses and a roadblock delayed an ambulance as it responded to a collapsed runner, who died before reaching a local hospital, authorities said.
John Bruner, a college sophomore and the former cross country team captain at Dalton (Ga.) High School, collapsed near the end of the 4.7-mile Missionary Ridge Road Race on Saturday. It took 18 minutes from the time of the first call until the ambulance arrived.
Some who were present at the race expressed concern over how long it took the ambulance to arrive, but Ken Wilkerson, Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services chief, said incorrect addresses given by the first two callers were part of the reason for the 18-minute response time.
“With incorrect information, it’s very difficult for us to make timely responses,” he said.
Cliff Milam, a race spectator, was standing a few feet away from Mr. Bruner when he fell.
Mr. Milam said he did not have his cell phone with him. Cars were not allowed at the race, and he said most people had been bused to the location and left most of their belongings in their vehicles.
Mr. Milam, who went to get water to cool Mr. Bruner after he fell, said he sensed a general “lack of urgency” from police and medical personnel present.
“It’s definitely serious when that kind of heat is involved,” he said. “And he was unconscious from the beginning.”
Dan Bailey, race director, said EMS personnel were on hand, but there was no ambulance.
Mr. Bruner died before he arrived at Erlanger hospital, said Pat Charles, a hospital spokeswoman.
The first caller gave the 911 dispatcher the wrong address at 8:43 a.m., Chief Wilkerson said. Seven minutes later, a second caller phoned in and also gave the dispatcher the wrong address, he said.
Under the stress of an emergency, “it’s understandable that people make a mistake,” Chief Wilkerson said. But he urged callers to take “an extra 15 to 20 seconds to look at a street sign, to look at a mailbox number.”
Roadblocks set up for the race also delayed the ambulance before it arrived at 9:01 a.m., Chief Wilkerson said.
Mr. Bailey said ambulances are on site during some of the races he directs, but he does not recall having an ambulance available at the Missionary Ridge event in the past.
“We had EMTs available and an ER nurse at the finish line,” he said. “I thought I had it properly covered. It’s all hindsight now.”
Mr. Bailey said Saturday’s tragedy will change the way he directs races in the future.
“I know I will not allow that race to happen again without an ambulance on site,” Mr. Bailey said.
The deputy medical examiner for Hamilton County completed an autopsy on Mr. Bruner on Monday but drew no conclusions and ordered further tests, a spokeswoman said.