Ohio Girl Dies, Dispatch Error Probed
DARKE COUNTY, Ohio --
On Jan. 14, around 9:41 a.m., the Darke County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from 129 East Cross Street in the village of Palestine of a 9-year-old girl who was unresponsive.
A report from the sheriff's office said the dispatcher sent Ansonia Fire, Rescue and police to 120 West and East Cross Street in Ansonia. The caller was provided CPR instructions while emergency units responded.
The sheriff's report said at approximately eight minutes into the call, the dispatcher realized the call was from 120 East Cross Street in Palestine, not Ansonia. Dispatchers immediately sent the correct emergency responders to the call upon realizing the error.
Tri-Village Rescue, Liberty Township Fire and deputies responded to the scene. Medics transported the girl to Wayne Health Care, where she was pronounced dead.
The Darke County Coroner was notified and is investigating the child's death, along with Darke County detectives. The investigation into the child's death is standard procedure and required by law regardless of the circumstances.
Sheriff Toby Spencer has initiated an internal investigation into the error that occurred in dispatching the call. The dispatcher was placed on paid administrative leave while the sheriff investigates if it was a technical error or a human error. The dispatcher has also apologized to the family of 9-year-old Arayah Hope Hudson for a situation that he calls unconscionable.
Hudson was buried Tuesday morning at Oakland Cemetery.
Sheriff Spencer said this type of tragedy will will never happen again. "Somewhere along the line, something let down and we need to find what that is," he said.
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