DUNNELLON, FL (352today.com) – Tuesday morning’s two-vehicle accident involving a farm bus and a pickup truck that left eight people dead and sent dozens to area hospitals could have been much worse if not for first responders who worked together during the chaos of the crisis.
Dash and body cam footage released last week by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office provided insight into scope of the tragedy.
A number of agencies responded to the call for help including:
- Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
- Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR)
- Ocala Police Department (OPD)
- Marion County Public Schools (MCPS)
- HCA Ocala
- Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
- First Oasis, an FDOT contractor
- Homeland Security
- Medical examiner’s office
- Florida Bureau of Professional Regulation
“The help and assistance we received was vital, with each agency making a contribution,” said Lt. Patrick Riordan, FHP public affairs officer. “Either large or small, it allows our investigators to focus on gathering evidence, measurements, photos, interviews and all on scene tasks in the most expeditious manner possible.”
Riordan says it’s the professionalism, resilience, adaptability and cooperation, shared by the agencies who worked the accident, that brought a sense of order to a chaotic environment.
“The team concept on scenes like we had is what is expected of professionals, no matter who they work for,” said Riordan.
FHP says he first responders played a crucial role in getting the victims the critical care that they needed, making sure they were transported rapidly and safely to hospitals within the area.
The accident scene on State Road 40 in western Marion County near Dunnellon was approximately 16 miles away from the closest hospitals, with an approximately 31-minute transit time from the site compounded by morning rush hour traffic.
“MCFR’s rapid response enabled the most critical patients to arrive at HCA Ocala within the ‘golden hour,’ within one hour of receiving the call,” said James Lucas, MCFR public safety information manager. “These critical patients arrived at the hospital on or before 7:40 a.m. The last patients to arrive at the Advent Ocala made it there by 8:07 a.m.”
Victims were transported to AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Timber Ridge, HCA Ocala, HCA Foxwood, HCA West Marion and UF Health Shands.
First responders agree communication was critical and their training created a stable environment.
“The interagency cooperation with Marion County and all involved partners is to be commended,” said Lucas. “This was considered a mass casualty incident utilizing 20 transport units from MCFR, four from HCA Ocala and a Marion County Public Schools bus. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office patrol division, Emergency Management and public information officers proved crucial to the event.”
Solidarity increases efficiency and provides a supportive atmosphere in a stressful environment.
“The spirit of camaraderie among MCFR and MCSO responders is essential when dealing with mass casualty incidents, as it significantly enhances coordination and communication,” said Lucas. “In scenarios where multiple agencies and individuals must collaborate, a strong sense of team unity helps synchronize efforts effectively, ensuring that operations are carried out smoothly. This camaraderie also bolsters the efficiency and commitment of the team, as members are more likely to excel in their roles and provide mutual support, especially in high-pressure situations.”