July 4th car crash in Fredonia necessitates ambulance and Lifeflight; temporary measures leveraged to allow Kane County ambulance response

Around 10 a.m. on July 4, a westbound sedan on Altus Lane in Fredonia turned directly in front of an eastbound truck. The truck attempted to swerve but ultimately collided with the car’s passenger side. Co­conino County Sheriff Brett Axlund made a special request, allowing a ground ambulance response from Kane County and Kanab EMS.

The truck’s driver and passengers received only minor injuries, while the condition of the car’s driver required an emergency Lifeflight. As the incident is still under active investiga­tion, no further information is available to the public yet.

In addition to the impact to individuals involved, this incident is significant as a medical emergency following the announcement that Kane County EMS would no longer be allowed across the border into Arizona, requiring the special instance of Sheriff Axlund’s request.

Following the event, Fredo­nia Mayor Don Johnson declared Local Emergency; the official declaration states, “1. That to ensure proper emergency medical services are provided to the citizens of the Town of Fredonia, and pursuant to A.R.S. 26-311(B)(3), the Town of Fredonia will call on all regular or auxiliary law enforcement agencies and organizations within or without the Town of Fredonia for assistance, regardless of state of origin, including but not limited to any agency or organization within or contracted by the City of Kanab, Kane County or Kane County Hospital. 2. That to ensure proper emergency medical services are provided to the citizens of the Town of Fredonia, and pursuant to A.R.S. 26-311(C), the Town of Fredonia will utilize exist­ing MOUs and mutual aid agreements, as well as seek and obtain as necessary mutual aid for emergency medical services from any and all resources for as­sistance regardless of state of origin, including but not limited to from the City of Kanab, Kane County and the Kane County Hospital.”

According to Arizona Department of Health Ser­vices, “Under Arizona law, A.R.S. 36-2217 there are exemptions from regula­tion related to certificates of necessity. Specifically, ARS 36-2217(A)(5) notes that ambulances from other states are exempt under the following conditions: Responding to a major catastrophe or emergency in this state because there are insufficient registered ambulances in this state to respond in that situation.

Operating either from a location outside of this state to transport a patient to a location within this state or operating from a location outside of this state and crossing through this state to transport a patient to a location outside of this state Under the above conditions, any out of state ambulance service, including Kane County EMS, is permitted to respond.”

These measures are con­firmed to be only tempo­rary, with officials looking to solve the original issue that prompted the restric­tion. Fredonia’s declaration of emergency will continue until the Mayor determines the health and lives of the citizens of the town are no longer in active danger.