CLARKSVILLE, Ind. -- The town of Clarksville is considering making a potentially life-saving change.
Clarksville is considering creating its own ambulance service.
Right now, that service is provided by New Chapel EMS but a recent tragedy has raised some concerns and red flags.
Clarksville Town Manager Kevin Baity said until recently, response times have been OK. For the last three years, New Chapel EMS has provided ambulance services for Clarksville but an election day tragedy could lead to change.
Right now, the response time that they had the day of the election was unacceptable," Baity said.
On election day, former Clarksville Town Council member David "Red" Worrall was running to get back on the council when he collapsed outside a polling location and later died.
"Unfortunately, part of the process of engaging the current service provider was that we were supposed to have two ambulances dedicated to Clarksville," Baity said.
Baity said what happened on election day reignited conversations about Clarksville starting its own ambulance service but it comes at a cost.
"Right now estimates are approximately $3.5 million," he said. "That would purchase three ambulances and then allow us to staff up with the additional equipment that we need."
"If we had an ambulance on every corner in Clarksville, it may not be enough to save some," councilman Mike Mustain (D-4) said.
Mustain said even if Clarksville had its own ambulance service, it may not have changed what happened on election day but it could have provided a faster response.
"But the access to that ambulance would be better," Mustain said. "We have three fire houses in Clarksville. That doesn't mean a house doesn't burn down. They do and we have three fire houses in Clarksville. They get there as quick as they can. But for some it just may not be enough."
Right now, the chief of the Clarksville Fire Department is looking into the cost and how to pay for the service.
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