Post-Crash Report Shows Critical Lack of Lifesaving Helicopters in Rhode Island

PORTSMOUTH, RI—A review of the emergency response to the serious crash on Aug. 30 in Portsmouth that critically injured two teenage boys and sent five people to the hospital shows both the strengths and weaknesses of Aqudineck Island's public safety operations.

The review of the incident response released by the Portsmouth Fire Department on Friday indicates that the lives of both boys were likely saved thanks to the training of area departments and mutual aid agreements forged between the bay and island communities of Newport, Portsmouth, Middletown, Bristol, Tiverton and the Navy at Naval Station Newport.

But critical time was lost because of the geographical restrictions of Aquidneck Island. According to the report, there was a delay in the arrival of patients to the trauma center "due to the unavailability of medical helicopters."

The two closest were already on other calls and the helicopter that did come came from Hartford, CT, which has a 35-minute response time.

Initial responders were also delayed "because of people performing U-turns to avoid the accident," according to the After Action Review report.

The crash happened along busy West Main Road at 5:30 p.m. on a hot and sunny Tuesday at a time when the road is typically busy. And it's one of the only main thoroughfares to travel from one end of the island to the other. It means that when either East or West Main Roads is blocked off during a busy period, both roads will choke, causing a traffic ripple effect.

The driver of Portsmouth's Engine 1 had a near miss with a car "that turned in front of him as he approached the scene," according to the report.

What enabled responders to overcome those issues was skill, patience and professionalism, according to the report.

Mutual aid activation came quick and early, which brought enough resources to save lives in time.

They remained composed in a high stress incident, advanced medical care was immediate and appropriate and extrication procedures were efficient.

And in this case, there were trained bystanders by chance and they "jumped in and provided useful assistance."

After-action reports are used by fire departments to review and enhance operations. It also typically leads to an action plan for improving weak areas. In this case, the report calls for creating awareness about "the lack of medical helicopters in Rhode Island," recognizing the impact of good Samaritans on the incident outcome and "recognize the selfish and inexcusable behavior of those who blocked emergency responders by U-turning away from the scene."

The report notes that most densely populated areas in the Northeast enjoy medical helicopter coverage, but Rhode Island doesn't.

"Increased road traffic and the numerous construction projects are adding to the danger of negative outcomes," the report concluded.

A total of three cars were involved. Along with the two vehicles that collided head-on, a third car was grazed, according to police.

The preliminary investigation showed that Billey Dodd, 54, of Portsmouth, was traveling north on West Main Road in a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban when he crossed the double yellow line and crashed into two cars heading south. The first, a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, was driven by 33-year-old Jonathan Barretto of Portsmouth and sideswiped. The second, a 2008 Nissan being driven by Bryan Babcock, 45, of Middletown, was struck head-on, the two boys, age 16 and 13, were passengers.

Daniel and Ty are still in the hospital, slowly recovering from the serious and life threatening injuries they sustained in the crash, enduring pain and trauma no child should ever have to bear. Their mother has documented their progress in powerful detail on a YouCaring site set up to help the family deal with the toll.

Through regular updates, the family has described the scope of their injuries and the immense challenges they all face in the weeks and years ahead. They say they're thankful and overwhelmed for all the love and support from the community.

Today, Ty is cracking his "little Ty grin" once again. He's finally in better spirits and craving his next Popsicle.

Daniel is stir crazy, grouchy and short, but if anyone deserves to be that way, it's him. He's been sedentary, medicated and operated on multiple times. But he's always polite to the staff and continues to impress in physical therapy.

"I have always thought my kids were adorable, and love seeing their faces, but I don't think I ever appreciated the sight of them quite as much as I do now," their mother wrote. "It's been a long 17 days, and we have so much more healing to do, but days like today I find myself able to exhale just a little more."

Photo courtesy: Portsmouth Fire Department