Odessa American
ODESSA, Texas — An internal review by Odessa Fire/Rescue found no wrongdoing by firefighters who overlooked an injured 3-year-old girl left on the backseat floorboard after a Nov. 14 car crash, CBS 7 News reported Tuesday, citing a statement provided by fire officials.
The girl was riding in a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 28-year-old Ever Ortega of Oklahoma. Ortega was accused of causing a three-vehicle crash at Highway 385 and Loop 338. A 12-year-old boy was also in the Jeep.
The girl was found inside the damaged Jeep Grand Cherokee about three hours after the wreck by an employee with Unlimited Wrecker Service who heard crying sounds, according to previous reports. She had gone unnoticed by Odessa Fire/Rescue firefighters and Texas Department of Public Safety officials.
“After reviewing the actions that took place on November 14, it was determined OFR personnel on scene did not violate any existing policy or procedures,” Fire Chief Roger Boyd said in a statement, CBS 7 reported. “Personnel on scene acted accordingly with the information presented to them at the scene.”
The news station reported Boyd said there was no willful misconduct or negligence. Previously, city officials said the wreck left the back doors of the Jeep jammed shut, preventing firefighters to open them to fully check the back seats. Instead, they peered through the windows and did not see the girl, city officials said, adding that Ortega and the 12-year-old did not tell emergency responders about the girl.
Boyd previously told the Odessa American that the firefighters who were at the scene of the three-car collision were devastated and shocked by the news about the toddler.
Copyright 2016 the Odessa American