The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Operations Floor Supervisor Sarah Mareth, Public Safety Operator Kelsee Norton, and Public Safety Operator Jeannie Wells of Lawrence County Emergency Services as Missouri Teammates in Action!
Lawrence County Emergency Services operators received multiple 9-1-1 calls following a passenger vehicle crash into multiple motorcycle riders on Highway 39 near Aurora, Missouri. The crash resulted in immediate fatalities. Supervisor Mareth, Operator Wells, and Operator Norton worked together quickly to get first responders enroute while a flood of information was coming into the 9-1-1 center. Callers reported 6-7 motorcycles hit, one of the motorcycles was on fire, at least 2 people were killed, and debris from the vehicles and the victims covered the roadway.
These team members communicated with and supported one another during a call, that not only sounded traumatic, but turned out to be one of the most tragic events that they’ve worked in quite some time. They dispatched four fire departments, two different ambulance services, assisted with getting helicopters dispatched to the scene, and three law enforcement agencies. With nonstop radio traffic, the team guided everyone to the scene and continued to manage calls from loved ones wanting to know if someone they knew was involved. The event lasted several hours resulting in 4 motorcyclist fatalities and 7 critical injuries. Our team did not stop taking care of the first responders and community once. The Lawrence County emergency community is grateful and blessed to have this team as part of their 9-1-1 family.
Missouri APCO echoes the agency’s pride for what this team did during this crisis and what they do every time they are behind the headset. We are pleased to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action.