'They dropped the ball': Bodycam video and 911 calls released of woman who slipped and died in cold
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - The daughter of the woman who died from probable hypothermia near 76th and Congress is speaking out after calls were released of her mother calling for help.
"They still, at the end of the day, they dropped the ball," said Kevina Waldref, daughter of 49-year-old Jolene Waldref who died on Jan. 15.
Waldref claims her mother was neglected by first responders after 911 calls showed her pleas for help.
The 49-year-old is heard saying, "I can't breathe."
The dispatcher then asked what the reason was for calling medical help where she responded, saying," I am so lightheaded and dizzy."
She was seen on surveillance video slumped over on the ground near 76th and Congress as she was waiting for the bus to take home. The calls were made around 5:22 in the afternoon.
A Curtis Ambulance crew was sent out four minutes after the call. Seen on surveillance video gathered by CBS 58, the ambulance drove past the scene, not getting out of their rig, saying they were unable to find her.
About 20 minutes later, a concerned civilian made a call. Six minutes after that, a Milwaukee fire crew got to the scene, where Waldref was found just before 6 p.m. Waldref was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m.
"I was heartbroken, honestly," said Kevina Waldref.
She thinks more could've been done to prevent her mother's death, saying the ambulance crews could've gotten out of their rig when they were initially called.
CEO of Curtis Ambulance, James Baker, said in a news conference earlier this week that it's not protocol for crews to get out of the vehicle to look for a patient.
"We felt that they did their due diligence. They didn't do anything wrong. The EMS system here worked as designed," said Baker.
That's a protocol Alderman Lamont Westmoreland wants to change with a resolution in the wake of Waldref's death.
"An ambulance would be dispatched to a location; if they cannot find the caller they have to get out of the vehicle and look," said Ald. Westmoreland.
He said he's in talks with the fire department on specifics and is hopeful it will go through council.
Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski responded to Waldref's concerns in a statement, saying:
"I am deeply saddened and wish to convey my condolences to the family of Jolene Waldref. I am unable to imagine the depth of the pain and the rightful anger felt by those left behind. We have reviewed all available documents, recordings, and video related to this horrible incident and will be reviewing and sharing those with family members at an upcoming meeting. A crucial step towards healing is for us to remain transparent and to ensure that any answers that we can offer are provided.
Another critical step that the Milwaukee Fire Department is committed to undertaking is to collaborate with our partners to create or revise, where applicable, guidelines for similar responses. With a universally accepted EMS system aim to always err on the side of patient care, it is plain that existing guidelines (or the lack thereof) do not meet that aim. We will work to ensure that guidelines for similar responses are bolstered and implemented to regain the public’s complete trust in their EMS system and to prevent a recurrence."