AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council has taken a big step toward trying to make hospitals in the city safer.
Council members unanimously approved a resolution that would require all new medical facilities to install barriers to prevent cars from crashing into buildings.
The resolution came as a direct response to a crash that happened at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center in February. Michelle Holloway, 57, died when she crashed her car into the emergency room, severely injuring five others as well, including the Bernard family.
“They don’t want any other families, any other children or people to go through what they’ve gone through – to be plowed over by a car in an emergency, that was completely preventable,” Sean Breen, a trial attorney at Howry Breen & Herman and attorney for the Bernard family, said.
Following the crash, the Bernard family filed a lawsuit against St. David’s for not having safety “bollards” in front of the hospital.
Below is an excerpt from the lawsuit.
St. David's knew this exact danger, a vehicle headed toward the unprotected emergency room entrance and lobby, was a risk of harm. St. David's knew that harm could be cured by installing safety barriers known as bollards. St. David's had the resources to install the barriers. Yet, St. David's did not install bollards to protect the Bernards or others at North Austin Medical Center from the danger.
Immediately following the crash, St. David’s North Austin Medical Center installed bollards in the area that was struck, but the Bernard’s attorney said they weren't up soon enough.
Breen said in the last few years, this has become a growing issue, with cars crashing into emergency rooms across the U.S.
“If you build a road that basically brings vehicles right to the entrance of the emergency room, and you add in the fact that these drivers are often impaired on either drugs or pain or stress, it’s quite common for them to lose control,” Breen said.
The average cost to install bollards is about a few hundred dollars each, but Breen said that’s a price large corporations should be eager to pay.
“I mean, do we have a price for not having a 1-year-old child be run over by a car?” Breen said. “It’s a no-brainer.”
The resolution from the Austin City Council also asks the city manager to look at the possibility of getting existing medical centers to put up bollards and to see if it’s possible to require safety bollards in areas near medical facilities as well.
Councilmember Mackenzie Kelly (District 6) has been vocal about this resolution and making sure hospitals are protected.
“With Austin leading the way, I hope to inspire similar policy changes throughout the state and across the country,” Kelly said at the July 18 council meeting.
KVUE reached out to St. David’s for a statement. Officials with the hospital said they will work with policymakers to ensure they’re in compliance with any new requirements.