A day after his mother had been involved in an out of state accident involving a new VEMS vehicle, Jerry Schwab asked a local mechanic to “make sure that the vehicle was not visible in an effort to avoid involvement of the press.”
That’s according to a Valley Emergency Medical Services (VEMS) Board of Directors report obtained by the Valley Independent Sentinel Wednesday.
The report details the use of a new 2012 Ford Expedition by Madalene Taggart, treasurer of the VEMS Board of Directors. Schwab is the president of the Board of Directors.
Taggart was driving the VEMS vehicle on interstate 95 in Maryland on Dec. 21 when she was involved in an accident with a tractor trailer. She was on her way back from Virginia with her son Travis and his girlfriend. They were retrieving personal items belonging to the girlfriend’s deceased father.
On Tuesday Schwab said the use of the vehicle was in line with past practices at VEMS. The new vehicle needed to accumulate 2,000 miles on it before it was put into service responding to medical emergencies, Schwab said.
The trip was simply a way to accumulate miles, Schwab said Tuesday.
The report reviewed by the Valley Indy Wednesday states:
- Taggart contacted her son, Schwab, immediately after the accident and sent him pictures of the damaged truck via cell phone.
- Schwab asked VEMS Executive Director Robert Pettinella “to keep the matter handled internally.” The report does not specify what that meant.
- The truck was brought to Gabby’s Auto Body in Seymour on Dec. 22, and Schwab told the owner to “fix it quick and not worry about who was paying for it as the other vehicle’s insurance would be covering it,” according to the report.
- The full VEMS board didn’t find out about the accident until Dec. 23, two days after it happened.
Attempts to contact Schwab and Pettinella were unsuccessful Wednesday. VEMS is a non-profit agency that provides paramedics to emergency medical calls in the lower Valley.
Article continues after report.
Report of Motor Vehicle Accident12-2011
The report was discussed during a closed-doors executive session special meeting of the VEMS Board of Directors Tuesday. After the discussion, the board decided to close its review without disciplining anyone involved.
However, the review of the issue is not over.
The Valley Council of Governments plans to discuss the report at its next meeting. Copies of the report have been given to first selectmen and mayors in Ansonia, Derby, Seymour and Shelton.
The Valley COG is a regional planning agency, led by the mayors and first selectmen in the Valley.
And, the VEMS board of directors could take up the issue again at its regular meeting on Jan. 19, according to vice president Jared Heon.
Heon authored the report discussed Tuesday. He said he will present a follow-up report to the full board on Jan. 19 reflecting the answers to questions asked during Tuesday’s executive session. He wouldn’t comment on what questions were asked.
“We’re hoping to also have the police report by then,” Heon said.
Official Reacts
Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri the VEMS vehicle incident underlines systemic problems within VEMS.
The agency is not accountable to the towns it serves, Staffieri said. Clearly, an emergency medical vehicle should not be used for a private trip, Staffieri said.
Derby has stopped giving an annual $30,000 fee for VEMS medical services.
“We are not going to use hard earned taxpayer money of Derby citizens so that VEMS can allow board members or their moms, the personal use of vehicles purchased, maintained, repaired, fueled and insured by taxpayer money,” Staffieri said.
Next Steps?
The VEMS Board of Directors said it will review its car-use policy for employees and volunteers serving on the board of directors as a result of this incident. The board will also look at its policies on reporting accidents.
Heon declined to comment on any questions raised in the report, saying the answers were discussed during an executive session. He also said the information should come from the full board, at its next meeting.
