First Responders Honored For Fatal I-80 Bus Crash Response

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ — May 17, 2018, was a "worst-day scenario" for first responders in the Mount Olive area: a school bus full of children was involved in a highway crash, and they needed help immediately.

First responders didn't hesitate. They didn't pause. Police, EMS, firefighters and more, immediately jumped into action to save lives. For those efforts, first responders from around the Morris County area were honored with the Valor Award by the 200 Club of Morris County.

"May 17, 2018 was a difficult day for many, but was also a proud day for our Morris County EMS Police, Fire, OEM and the overall patient care continuum from dispatch, to the street, and ultimately to the hospital," the Club said in a description of the award. "This Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) was managed in a professional and exemplary manner, and every responder stepped up to the plate to do what was needed in order to save lives. We often say that we train for the day that we hope never happens, but in this case, it happened, and all of the responders involved in this incident should be extremely proud of the role they played, as well as the positive outcome."

Students from East Brook Middle School in Paramus were traveling to Waterloo Village when the bus driver, Hudy Muldrow Sr., is accused of cutting across I-80 in an attempted to reach the center median. A dump truck slammed into the side of the buss, and 911 calls immediately began pouring in to the Mount Olive and County dispatchers.

Mount Olive Police, every Mount Olive fire department, State Police, and multiple EMS teams were the first wave of responders sent to the scene.

"What happened next was truly remarkable. Upon the arrival of the first units on-scene, the comprehensive scene size-up gave both dispatch centers and other response units enough information to immediately dispatch and ensure that we had enough ambulances and emergency response assets being requested to respond," the 200 Club said.

It took just seven minutes to help all students and teachers off of the overturned bus.

Once everyone was off the bus, "the next significant challenge was the triage of 46 patients in a variety of medical conditions who were spread out along the grassy median and highway," the Club said.

Two people, student Miranda Vargas and teacher Jennifer Williamson-Kennedy, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their injuries were described as "so significant that no action by EMS or hospital personnel could have changed the tragic outcome."

The other 44 passengers were in "a variety of medical conditions," including those with minor injuries and those in critical condition. "Everyone that was treated and transported is alive today because of an aggressive triage and reassessment process and a 'complete system of care,'" the Club said.

Overall, so many lives were saved because of the cooperation between multiple agencies from several counties, the Club said. Sixteen different agencies and eight individual police officers were honored with the 2019 Valor Award. The awards were distributed in an April ceremony.

The following agencies were honored:

• Atlantic Ambulance Corporation
• Budd Lake Fire Co. #1
• Flanders Fire & Rescue Co. #1
• Hackettstown Medical Center Emergency Department
• Morris County Communications Division
• Morris County Office of Emergency Management
• Mount Olive Township Police Department
• Mount Olive Township, Office of the Fire Marshal
• New Jersey State Police
• Par-Troy Emergency Medical Services
• Roxbury Township Co. No. 2 Fire & EMS
• Saint Clare's Denville Hospital Emergency Room
• Saint Clare's Dover Hospital Emergency Room
• Saint Clare's Health EMS
• Sameth Emergency Department at Morristown Medical Center
• Stanhope-Netcong American Legion Ambulance Corps

The eight individuals honored are:

• New Jersey State Police Netcong Station Trooper I David Dabrowski
• New Jersey State Police Netcong Station Trooper Michael Sweeney
• Mount Olive Township Police Department Officer Lonnie Elbaum
• Mount Olive Township Police Department Officer Anthony Gardner
• Mount Olive Township Police Department Detective Corporal Eric Krouse
• Mount Olive Township Police Department Officer Tyler Mullooly
• Mount Olive Township Police Department Corporal Marianne Wurtemberg
• Netcong Borough Police Department Patrolman Thomas Borgia

Read more Patch coverage:

• Bus Driver In Fatal I-80 Crash Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Date Set
• Memorial Created At East Brook Middle School Following Deaths
• Paramus Community Mourns Dedicated Teacher Killed In Crash
• Video Shows I-80 Bus Crash That Killed Paramus Student, Teacher