Employees, Medical Staff at St. Anthony in Pendleton Rush to Aid Accident Victims
Date
01/18/2013
Article Text
Medical staff and other employees at St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton, OR, reacted swiftly and effectively on Dec. 30 when they learned of a tour bus crash 12 miles east of town. A disaster code was called at about 10 a.m. The tour bus was carrying more than 40 passengers when it slid off icy Interstate 84 along Deadman Pass in the Blue Mountains, rolling about 200 feet down a canyon wall. Nine passengers died at the scene; 26 injured passengers were transported to St. Anthony, where they received emergency care. All 26 survived the accident. Arnie Pearce, RN, described the aftermath of the crash and the care provided to the victims by St. Anthony staffers as humbling. “It seems like saying `thanks’ isn’t enough,” said Pearce. “I highly admire the efforts and dedication of all of the hospital departments and medical staff who came in. It’s eye-opening to realize the quality of people that we are blessed to have had here on that Sunday morning.”
