A paper delivery woman who drove into a flooded area drowned after being reprimanded by a now-former 911 dispatcher.
Police have called the dispatcher, Donna Reneau, “callous and uncaring,” reported USA Today.
Stevens called at around 4:30 a.m. and said that she was in an emergency situation.
“It veered off the road while I was delivering newspapers, and I’m flooded over here on the end of Kinkead, and it’s all the way up to my windows, and I can’t get out, and I’m scared to death, ma’am. Can you please help me?” she said.
She said that water was coming in from the windows, adding: “I’m scared. I’ve never had anything happen to me like this before.”
Police released the dramatic audio and body cam video.
Debbie Stevens, 47, was in fear and desperately pleading for help as Reneau chastised her for driving into the water, at one moment telling her to “shut up.”
Stevens was on her regular route to deliver papers in Fort Smith on Aug. 24 when a sudden flood took away her car and started filling it with water. Stevens said repeatedly during the call that she couldn’t swim and that she didn’t want to die.
The Southwest Times reported that Fort Smith police launched an internal investigation regarding departmental policies due to the incident.
Reneau had submitted her two weeks resignation notice and was on her final shift as a dispatcher for the department, Police Chief Baker told the outlet. She had been working as a dispatcher for five years and was a dispatch trainer.
Baker added that there would have been disciplinary action taken against Reneau if she were still an employee at the department, but that there wasn’t anything in the phone call that would have prompted a criminal investigation.
Baker also expressed that he can “completely understand” the public’s concern over the incident.
He added that also however, he hopes the public understands “that there’s so many things involved in responding to a situation,” like the one in question.
“Obviously, we can’t investigate someone who no longer works here. However, (we’ve launched) an investigation into our responses, our policies, our dispatch center. I’ve been in communication with the fire chief, and we’re looking at how we can enhance our training for our dispatchers,” said Baker at a news conference.
Stevens was begging for help and breaking down emotionally because she was scared, however, the dispatcher lectured her: “Well this will teach you, next time don’t drive in the water,” Reneau said. “I don’t see how you didn’t see it, you had to go right over it, so.”
Police spokesman Aric Mitchell said that Reneau dispatched emergency staff, but they didn’t make it on time. “They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. They just weren’t able to get to her on time,” Mitchell said, according to The Associated Press.
Her body was recovered at about 6 a.m.
