Warren County/City first responders saved “everyone who could be saved”

VICKSBURG, MS. – A tragic bus accident early Saturday morning left seven people dead, including a 6-year-old and his 16-year-old sister. The passenger bus carrying 47 people, reportedly had a tire blow out causing the bus to leave the roadway and roll onto its side.

On Monday, September 2, the identities of the seven people who died were released:

• Miguel Arriaga, 61 of Mexico
• Victor A. Garcia, 32 of Mexico
• Moises A. Garcia, 31 of Mexico
• Kain Gutierrez, 8 of Mexico
• Perla Gutierrez, 16 of Mexico
• Elia Guzman, 63, of Mexico
• Angelica Palomino, 16 of Mexico

The Warren County and Vicksburg first responders who worked the scene experienced one of the most difficult challenges of their professional life.

“The team inside the bus worked for what seemed like hours. It was so hot to nearly passing out but no one would quit until the last survivor was free,” said Warren County Fire Coordinator Jerry Briggs. “They had to dig out and tunnel to free the last guy from under the bus. A two man team worked on him and a 3-man team worked to free a man trapped above their head in a make shift sleeping quarters.”

Four people worked inside the bus, three from the Warren County Fire Service and one from Rescue with the VFD. Working inside the bus was Jerry Briggs, Neal Pryor, Michael Barnett, and Zach Hearn. Also assisting with the effort from the city was Jeff Hearn. Warren County Firefighters at the scene were Chris Kennedy, Hunter Ivey, Marquise Holmes, Jeff Riggs, Wendell Blair, Karl McCaffree, Jeremiah O’Neal, Michael Barnett and Nick Davies.

“Help was on the way”

Warren County community member Maegan Gonzales stayed at the accident scene for over 3 hours helping to translate and comfort the victims. According to Gonzalez, the occupants of the bus were mostly from Mexico.

“People were trapped in the bus and trying to get out. One young couple was somehow out and walking around,” said Gonzalez. “But I was trying to let the people who were trapped know help was on the way.”

“The driver was very upset that he couldn’t control the bus and felt responsible for the accident,” continued Gonzalez. “He kept blaming himself and didn’t understand why he wasn’t able to keep the bus on the road after the tire blew out.”

The driver suffered a shoulder injury but refused medical treatment until all the passengers were out of the bus. He then made sure everyone else was in an ambulance before he finally boarded an ambulance, according to Gonzalez.

After rescuing the victims from the overturned bus, paramedics stabilized and prepared them for transport in one of the several ambulances dispatched to the scene. In total, they transported thirty-seven people to a hospital.

Merit Health/River Region called in additional staff to help with the large influx of people arriving in their emergency room.

Fourteen runs

The coordination required to make that happen was extensive. City ambulances drove to the scene, triaged the patients, and loaded them up for transport. They then took them to the hospital and returned to the scene to repeat the process. By the end of the effort, we counted fourteen city ambulance runs from Warren County. Additionally, an ambulance from Hind County did not transport patients but contributed personnel and supplies to the effort.

FD-3 Jessica Cade acknowledged that in spite of Associate Chief Trey Martin being out of town, Martin “was on the phone with me a lot and working the phones contacting other agencies to get us more resources.”

A phenomenal job in a tragic situation

“I was really proud of our team. I think they did a phenomenal job in a tragic situation,” said Cade, “I believe we saved everyone who could be saved.”

Working the accident from the Vicksburg Fire Department was FD-3 Jessica Cade, Battalion Chief Carl Carson, and EMT Jeff Hearn, Firefighter and EMT Larson Terry, Paramedic Anna Gilliland, EMT Hannah Anderson, Paramedic Jeremy Cooper, Firefighter EMT Gregory Williams, Captain Paramedic Mike Walker, EMT Veronica Williamson, Captain Paramedic Derrick Gardner, EMT Julianna Juve, Paramedic Courtney Tulios, Lieutenant EMT Jamie Judge, Captain Paramedic Tavares Hatchett, Lieutenant EMT Duncan Wright, Captain Paramedic Reginald Galloway, and Lieutenant EMT Walter Beamon.

Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies Sgt. Daniel Thomas, Deputy Thomas McBride, Deputy Drew Clempts, Deputy Ashley Everett and Sheriff Martin Pace all assisted at the scene.

Warren County Emergency Management Director John Elfer was at the accident scene providing and directing resources. Additionally, Elfer coordinated the recovery effort alongside the Red Cross.

Assisting with the horrific tasks of providing care to the deceased were WC Coroners, Doug Huskey and Kelda Bailess. Assisting them were Mario Grady and Tim Spears.

Coordinating all the resources were the 911 operators on duty at the time who took the flood of calls and kept up kept up with hours of traffic.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol worked the interstate and did the accident investigation.

In addition to those named, several community leaders including Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones, stepped up to assist. It was Jones who found and sent a translator to the hospital to assist with communications.

There are so many more members of the community, including Merit Health/River Regionwho stepped up to go above and beyond for the victims.