The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Press

Metro North Crash Victims’ Injuries Described as “Not as Severe” as Westchester Medical Center Staff Anticipated

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By Grace Bennett

All things considered, the news about those injured in the fiery Metro North crash that claimed six lives was heartening, according to an update relayed by a team of experts at Westchester Medical Center (WMC) earlier today.

The team also offered reporters gathered a detailing of the Emergency Room decision making process, otherwise known as triage, that took place behind the scenes as the crash victims arrived.

Dr. Joseph Turkowski, director of WMC’s Burn Center: “We were expecting a lot more and a lot worse injuries; fortunately the staff was mobilized well. Our concerted group effort really worked well.”

Westchester Medical Center's Dr. Joseph Turkowski (left) and Dr. Ivan Miller outside the Taylor Pavilion following a briefing with press on the status of the Metro North crash victims.
Westchester Medical Center’s Dr. Joseph Turkowski (left) and Dr. Ivan Miller outside the Taylor Pavilion following a briefing with press on the status of the Metro North crash victims.
Added Dr. Ivan Miller, medical director of WMC’s emergency department: “Injuries were confined to those who were in the first car. The rest of the train was spared which made a huge difference.”

As of the 12:30 p.m. update, Patricia Wrobbel, Chief Nurse Executive, said one patient remained in critical condition, one in serious, four in fair, and two in good. Four patients were discharged by morning.

Beginning at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, as the injured arrived, Wrobbel said 9 of the 12 patients presented with injuries severe enough that these patients received what is referred to as “Level 1 trauma activation.”

“After closer evaluation the triage specialists found that five of those patients were still in need of Level 1 activation: basically, mobilizing operating room resources and a group of specialists into action including a trauma surgeon. “Level 1 activation doesn’t mean the patient will be critically ill; we mobilize just in case,” said Dr. Miller.

As a regional trauma center, the WMC teams were prepared to receive dozens of patients when news of the crash reached them. “Our mission is to be prepared; every day, we get patients transferred to us from other facilities with fewer resources,” said Dr. Miller.

The 12 patients (all adults) arrived via ambulances from the Valhalla station. The WMC teams then began the time honored method of triaging. “Anytime you have multiple patients, you have to prioritize and see where the most diagnostic and treatment energy needs to be spent.

“Reports from the EMS technicians allowed us to pre-plan, direct patient to right staff, with doctors and nurses working together to redirect patients,” said Dr. Miller. There were also 40 patients already in the Emergency Room, including some children, upon the arrival of the crash injured victims. “Obviously those patients have needs too so all of this had to be done very carefully,” said Dr. Miller.

He said patients arrived with “burns, lacerations, flame and smoke inhalation, fractures, including open fractures–bone exposed to the air–with sometimes bone sticking out, crush injuries, dislocations, minor head injuries and scrapes. The degree of injuries ranged from stable to serious, said Dr.Turkowski, and ‘a silver lining’ was that the extent of the injuries were generally not as severe as they could be. “We have seen much more serious injuries here that can and do result in death.”


Helping Patients Battle the Pain of Burns
Still, three patients remain in the burn unit where managing pain is a key challenge. “There’s a lot of pain with burn injuries; there’s a whole side of the treatment plan dedicated to pain management, with wound care the most painful aspect,” explained Dr. Turkowski.

“The pain is there all the time. Patients are asked to walk around as much as they can too so they don’t lose function.” Smoke inhalation can complicate a burn victim’s recovery as well, he added.

Commenting on anticipated recovery time for the crash victims who sustained burn injuries, Dr. Turkowski answered: “I’m expecting a few patients to spend a week or two at the hospital; others will be sent home in a day or two.”

Dr. Miller made an observation about the wherewithal of some of even the most injured patients. “One theme in talking to people even with severe injuries: People focused on what they saw. I’m sure those people will never forget what they saw…it was almost like a wartime experience when you see people die right in front of you.”

Patricia Wrobbel noted: “A team of Chaplains and whole crew of social workers were available to speak to patients and also help family members who arrived wondering if their loved ones are ok.”

Dr. Miller pondered those who perished. “We know a number people died at the scene. I wish I’d had had the chance to treat six more patients…”

Metro North Disaster’s Small Miracle: “The train did not derail. It stayed on its tracks.” Rob Astornio

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By Grace Bennett

“When you get on a train, you expect to arrive safely to work or to home.” Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino

Instead, last night’s ride home was every commuter’s worst nightmare. These additional comments and info were gleaned last night during a press conference during which Astorino described a “completely burnt out scene” at the site of the deadly Metro North collision.

• It was a 5:45 p.m. express to Chappaqua at full capacity with some 650 passengers, traveling at 60 mph. The “standing room only” vehicle made its normal first stop at Harlem’s 125th Street station… before disaster struck.
• Seven people died in the train’s collision with a black Jeep Cherokee, whose woman driver, one of the persons killed by the collision, had reportedly stopped on the steel tracks in Mount Pleasant along the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla.
• 12 more of the passengers are being treated for injuries, 11 inside the trauma center of Westchester Medical Center. At least 10 of the injured are in serious condition, he added. One injured passenger was taken to Phelps Memorial Hospital.
• He described the cause of the crash as either “confusion” by the driver or a “malfunction of the vehicle.” “This was not the conductor or engineer’s fault.”
• A third row of rail came up from the tracks and through the entire front car. Astorino expressed amazement that anyone was able to get out of that ill fated car which he described as “all melted inside.” He added it was a miracle too in that: “The train did not derail; it stayed on the tracks.”
• Precise details about what happened to cause the crash in what is being deemed the worst accident in the history of Metro North continue to be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
• First responders and a Medical Examiner arrived at the scene “in very good time,” said Astorino.
No IDs of victims were available; families need to be informed first.

“Most people are creatures of habit…You go into your own world, reading the paper or listening to an IPod. “I can’t imagine what it was like at impact. There must have been pure panic.”

Editor’s Note: As news about this disaster unfolded, my first impulse was to drive to Westchester Medical Center. There, a long line of media, primarily camera crews, were lined up waiting for possible word. It was an eerie and also helpless feeling waiting outside knowing the intensity that must be taking place inside WMC’s walls where doctors and nurses must still be working furiously this morning to save lives and repair injuries, while hospital personnel address and comfort devastated and worried family members. After awhile, I headed to Hawthorne to the State Trooper’s Headquarters to hear Astorino’s comments.

Grand Giveaway Spree to Area Not for Profits at Auntie Penny

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By Grace Bennett

The shelves of Chappaqua’s beloved five and dime may have begun to appear bare, but thanks to hearts full of love, boxes of gifts to not for profits were filling up fast.

In short, a grand and generous gesture on the part of Auntie Penny created a truly heartwarming event Sunday morning.

(L-R) Dawn Evans Greenberg, Shiyang Paskowitz, Laura Schwartz, Luisa Grandsa-Rodriguez and Penny Romano
(L-R) Dawn Evans Greenberg, Shiyang Paskowitz, Laura Schwartz, Luisa Grandsa-Rodriguez and Penny Romano

“I’m just trying not to cry; this is just like Eve and Linda to do; they’ve both given so much to the community,” noted Dawn Evans Greenberg, who worked together with Auntie Penny to swing open its closing doors and invite multiple not for profits to stop by for a grand giveaway spree.

Inside Chappaqua caught up first with Dawn Meyerski who was eyeing a package of colorful, dangly bracelets. “It’s not only children the shop is helping, you know. These will make perfect gifts for our Senior Citizens at My Second Home,” noted Meyerski, executive director of the Mount Kisco Child Care Center which houses My Second Home, a safe and caring environment for seniors during the day. “I’m always overwhelmed by the generosity of this community; it’s beyond what anyone could expect.”

Dawn Meyerski, executive director, Mount Kisco Child Care Center
Dawn Meyerski, executive director, Mount Kisco Child Care Center

Luisa Grandsa-Rodriguez was busy filling a box with presents for several key programs of Neighbor’s Link in Mount Kisco; the first batch she collected was “for our Family Center. We work with immigrant families and helping to prepare their children for kindergarten.”

Laura Schwartz, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center, noted that she was picking up presents for impoverished families the Center serves throughout the county. “They might come in useful for fundraising at auctions too,” she noted.

Similarly, Penny Romano, executive director of the Miracle League of Westchester, was considering potential raffle items to help families of children with special needs.

Chappaqua’s Liz Wolf, whose kids Caroline and Sammy have been actively volunteering for the Oyebog Tennis Academy in Cameroon, Africa, was busy assembling a care package for the Academy.

And finally, Greenberg herself appeared to be breaking a sweat packing away on behalf of at least several organizations…including Chappaqua’s Making Headway Foundation (which supports research toward a cure for pediatric brain cancer), for a pediatric wing at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and for a Special Needs Girl Scout’s troop, too. Chappaqua’s Helen Jonsen, a long time Girl Scout Leader, stopped in to help with packing efforts as well.

Greenberg said she anticipates the giveaway to be in progress through Tuesday.

Mike Kaplowitz Explains State’s Approval for Affordable Housing at Hunt’s Place

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By Eileen Gallagher

Returning to town hall for his 14th year, Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Mike Kaplowitz addressed Supervisor Rob Greenstein and the town board in his recap of 2014.

Kaplowitz spoke of the “bipartisan mode” the county has achieved. Comparing the county legislators to the New Castle town board, where both bodies of government “sit around the table and hash things out,” he described the current situation as more favorable in that, “everyone’s had some skin in the game.”

Kaplowitz spoke of the current decision by the New York State Board of Variances to grant Conifer previously denied applications regarding 54 Hunts Place. “We [the county] had a deadline and a goal of 450 units [of affordable housing]. It was a tough decision, but prudent,” he continued, explaining why the county had approved funding for the building in December 2014, contingent upon Conifer acquiring variances which had previously been denied due to safety code violations. “[Hunts Place] was offered up [by previous town boards] and was taken in good faith by Conifer,” per Kaplowitz. “The county role is over,” he concluded, stating that the determinant of a good site is if people want to move in and live there.

Greenstein remarked that he remains concerned about the Conifer project being built at the Hunts Place location. Reading from his prepared statement, he said, “As has been widely reported, on January 22, 2015, Conifer received the building and fire code variances it had requested from the New York State Board of Review for its workforce housing project on Hunts Place. I remain concerned about the issues I raised about this project in 2013, namely, the safety of putting an apartment building at that location, and what that location says about our community. I want residents to know that I previously offered to work with Conifer to find a larger and more attractive location, and I remain willing to do so.”

In other news…

Monday, February 2 is the final day to pay taxes without incurring a penalty. Per Jill Shapiro, town administrator, the town is not allowed to waive this penalty, even in case of weather-related closure of town hall.

Addressing the recent snowstorm, Greenstein thanked the Department of Public Works staff for their dedication to clearing the roads, as well as the many restaurants and shops donating food. Councilman Jason Chapin reminded residents about not leaving snow from their driveways on public roads which, he stated, creates a hazard and causes additional time for plowing. Shapiro asked residents to please locate and shovel out nearby fire hydrants.

The board voted unanimously to hire Pace to provide economic analyses for downtown Chappaqua and Millwood at a cost of $20k and $10k, respectively.

Governor Cumo Defends Juno Storm Strategy to Err on Side of Caution

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Travel ban lifted; Mass transit to operate by 9 a.m today on a Sunday 60% Schedule; Normal service to resume by Wed a.m.

All bridges and tunnels reopened.

Heavy flight cancellations still being reported.

While noting at the outset of a press conference that “it is fair to say the storm has been less destructive than what has been predicted,” Governor Cuomo asserted that the precautions taken for 13 Counties were the right call and ultimately positive. “There was less snow than anticipated…. But because roads were empty we could actually plow the roads; we did a good job clearing the roads because they were empty. Train lines got back on track more quickly…”

‘At the end of the day, it may have brought us up to snuff sooner than later.” He noted that Suffolk County was the hardest hit (much harder than Nassau) with still “blizzard like conditions” and that state equipment is being redeployed to Suffolk, though travel ban lifted there too.

Cuomo noted that on the theory of live and learn, weather forecasters do the best they can.

“If there was a lean one way or the other, lean toward safety. I’ve seen the consequences the other way… we’ve had people die in storms. Much rather be in a situation where we say, we got lucky, then say, we didn’t get lucky and someone died.

Cuomo thanked NJ Gov. Christie and CT Gov. Malloy for coordination efforts. “We can’t open the traffic ban in one state unless you coordinate with the other,” he said.

Cuomo also announced the state would invest in a state in the art forecasting system though “weather prediction remains an imperfect science.”

He pointed to Buffalo’s recent storm and a decision not to close… “we had people stranded on roads for 15-20 hours.”
While the roads are open, Cumo noted, “I also don’t want to give people a false sense of security…. that while they may be passable, they could still dangerous that even with salting, etc., a layer of ice can exist under the snow. Also, unnecessary cars on the road cause significant traffic and clean up delays if they are out in any volume. — Grace Bennett