EMS Response Records Shed Light on Dennis Hungerford Death
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
Newly released records from the McKenzie County Ambulance Service (MCAS) provide additional insight into the events surrounding the June 9 death of Dennis Hungerford, 51, while also clarifying the ambulance service’s policies, staffing decisions, and role during the emergency.
The records, released June 24 in response to a public records request submitted by The Farmer, include a written response from MCAS Board President Jim Johnsrud, staffing rosters, shift schedules, ambulance run reports, and operational policies.
While the documents answer several questions raised following Hungerford’s death, they also introduce new information regarding communications between McKenzie Health and the ambulance service that may become central to understanding how transportation decisions were made during the nearly four-and-a-half-hour medical emergency.
The response begins with condolences from the ambulance service.
“MCAS wishes to express its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who passed away,” the letter states. “The loss of a family member is devastating, and MCAS is deeply sorry for the family’s loss.”
The agency also noted that emergency transportation decisions are often made under rapidly changing circumstances involving patient condition, staffing availability, weather, ambulance locations and whether air transportation is being pursued.
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