A Winnipeg woman forced to repeat herself three times after calling 911 about a serious head-on collision in northern Manitoba is frustrated that repetition is considered standard procedure by the people in charge of responding to emergencies. Jennifer Larsen spent 14 minutes on the phone Monday, answering some of the same questions from three different individuals, while around her, a vehicle was on fire and frenzied bystanders rushed to pull people out of their vehicles and provide care. Larsen was the first person to call 911 Monday following a head-on collision on Highway 6, approximately 40 kilometres south of Grand Rapids, that claimed two lives and injured five others.
She was a passenger in a vehicle that was travelling directly behind the collision involving a SUV and minivan, which happened around 3:45 p.m. Larsen said she was desperate to put her first aid training to use, but was stuck on the phone longer than expected.
"With each transfer and repetition during the 911 call, there's a growing frustration that I've provided this information," said Larsen, who is married to a CBC Manitoba employee. "The more I could be doing right now requires that I not be on the phone and that I be actively first aiding." A frantic scene While tied up on the phone, Larsen said other bystanders were scrambling to ensure everybody's safety.
She told one of the people she spoke with that one person was trapped. "I did several times try to communicate to them that the car was on fire,.