A Little Rock woman whose vehicle slid on a patch of ice and ended in a pond, was killed Monday when a 9-1-1 operator failed to patch her call through to police and fire officials.
According to the Associated Press, Jinglei Yi and her 5-year-old son were inside her vehicle when it slipped off the road, landed in a pond and began to fill with water. Though Yi called 9-1-1 at approximately 8 a.m., the operator allegedly didn’t follow the proper procedure that would have transferred the call to local law and fire workers.
“Proper protocol would be … we have a one-button transfer switch where you get (the ambulance service) on the line and you remain on the line with them until you’re sure that they have handled the call,” said Laura Martin, the director of the city’s police and fire communications.
Shortly after the call with 9-1-1 ended, Yi reportedly contacted an ambulance service which 30 minutes later confirmed it was en route to the scene. Law enforcement and fire department officials were then dispatched.
Officials are unsure if the delay was related to Yi’s death. A medical examiner will be charged with determining the exact cause of the death.
Yi was pronounced dead at the hospital. Her son was in critical condition as of Wednesday.
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