October 6, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Its not often that members of the DeKalb County Ambulance Service have the task of treating as many as ten people at one time due to injuries sustained in an automobile crash but that’s the challenge they faced in September , 2019. For their heroic actions that night, DeKalb EMS has earned the Region IV “Call of the Year Award” from the Upper Cumberland EMS Directors Association.
The award was presented during the association’s annual fall symposium Tuesday, October 5 in Cookeville.
Receiving the award for the DeKalb EMS were staff members who were on the call including Kristie Johnson, Director Hoyte Hale, Trevin Merriman, Trent Phipps, Becky Atnip, and Justin Thompson. Others named in the award but not on hand for the presentation are Stephanie Brown, Daniel Summers, Rachel Chechi, and John Poss.
The two vehicle crash for which the award was given occurred on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at the intersection of Highway 56 south and Joe Tittsworth Road in Smithville. Three adults and seven children were injured.
Central dispatch received the call at 8:03 p.m.
On that night Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol reported that 52 year old Franklin Elliott of Smithville was driving north on Highway 56 in a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan when he turned left onto Joe Tittsworth Road and crossed the path of a southbound 2016 Kia Soul driven by 37 year old Margaret Pedigo of McMinnville. The Kia did not have its headlights on at the time.
Elliott and passenger 34 year old Jessica Farris of Smithville were taken by private vehicle to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. Four children in the vehicle with them including a 14 year old girl, 16 year old boy, 8 year old girl, and a 12 year old boy were also injured and taken to the hospital by ambulances.
Three children were in the vehicle with Pedigo including a 13 year old boy, 9 year old boy, and 12 year old boy. Pedigo and two of the children were airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital and the other was taken by EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center where he was airlifted.
A landing zone for three helicopters including Air Evac, Erlanger Life Force, and Vandy Life Flight was set up on Highway 56 near the crash scene. DeKalb EMS responded with four ambulances and received mutual aid support from Putnam County EMS which sent two ambulances.
Members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments also responded.
“I am proud of these employees who were nominated and received this award but I am equally proud of all other members of my staff as well. DeKalb County can take pride in our EMS staff who work hard and are dedicated to their job of taking care of others. With the changing protocols and demands placed on them due to the COVID pandemic, our staff has and will continue to meet the challenges with courage and professionalism,” said Director Hale.
The Upper Cumberland EMS Directors Association consists of the directors from the primary 911 ground ambulance services and base managers of the air medical companies in the 14 county Upper Cumberland region.
Tennessee EMS Region IV comprises Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren, and White County. Air Evac, LifeForce, and Life Flight represent the 3 air medical services in the region.