A dispatch error is being held responsible for Chelsea Fire apparatus not responding to a serious motor vehicle accident involving an ejection on the southbound Mystic/Tobin Bridge on Sunday.
The collision took place in the southbound lane of the Tobin, extending into Charlestown on Sunday, with one vehicle occupant ejected during the serious crash.
According to a longstanding agreement, Boston crews typically respond to northbound Tobin emergencies while Chelsea crews respond to southbound ones, as each municipality has easier access in those respective directions. This arrangement applies even when the emergency location extends back toward Chelsea or Charlestown on the bridge.
Chelsea Fire did not arrive at Sunday’s ejection accident, leading some to suggest that Boston had failed to alert Chelsea about the incident.
Chief Len Albanese disputed this explanation.
“This isn’t a Boston Fire issue,” he said. “On this call it was a Chelsea Dispatch error. Boston did notify our dispatch and they had the information but did not send it out. This can’t happen. We have to do a further investigation as well, but this was a Chelsea Dispatch error that we are working to correct.”
According to Chief Albanese, discussions have taken place with the 9-1-1 Director regarding the matter. The chief indicated plans to revisit the Tobin policy to ensure all parties understand that Chelsea responds to all southbound accidents on the bridge.
“We are going to update the policy immediately and work on the specifics of it,” he said.
The Sunday morning crash occurred on the Cana Ramp and involved two vehicles. It was classified as very serious because one person was ejected from a vehicle. The ramp remained closed for an extended period.