35 Hospitalized After Market Mayhem

Hannah Heineman
Mirror staff writer
  
   Thirty-five people were transported to four area hospitals after 86-year-old Russell Weller of Santa Monica drove his car into the crowd shopping at the Farmers’ Market last Wednesday.
   Thirteen of the injured were taken to UCLA Medical Center, a trauma one Center equipped to treat acute cases. On Friday, four people were still in the hospital, including one adult in critical condition, a child in serious condition, and two adults in fair condition. The other nine victims were treated and released.
   A 7-month-old boy in critical condition, was transferred to UCLA from Santa Monica-UCLA Hospital after being stabilized the day of the crash. He died the following day, Thursday, July 17.
   Of the 11 victims who were taken to Santa Monica-UCLA, three are still hospitalized — two in fair condition and one in good condition. One patient was discharged after being hospitalized, while seven people who suffered minor injuries were treated and released the day of the accident.
   Wally Ghurabi M.D., emergency center Medical Director for the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, told the Mirror Monday that the emergency room was “not overwhelmed” because paramedics took victims to several different facilities. In addition, he said, the hospital “drills twice a year for instances like this using the Hospital Emergency Instance Command System.”
   Nine of the victims were taken to Saint John’s Hospital. According to a press release, “One patient, who was in critical condition with severe chest and pelvic injuries, died Wednesday.” Five of the other victims suffered moderate injuries and three suffered minor injuries. Five patients have now been released, while three remain hospitalized in good condition.
   The Director of Saint John’s Emergency room, Russ Kino M.D., stated that the ER was “able to handle all the patients they received” because his staff was thoroughly trained to respond to emergencies. He also pointed out that emergency room patients had instant access to all the requisite services, including operating rooms, CAT scans and blood for transfusions.
   Two other victims were taken by helicopter to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, also a level one trauma center. On Monday, a 54-year-old male was listed in critical condition and a 53-year-old female was in good condition.