Surveillance footage has surfaced capturing the disturbing moment the Bernard family was struck by a drunk driver at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, prompting local legislation aimed at bolstering hospital safety. According to KXAN, the video shows the family in front of the lobby aquarium just before a vehicle plows through the glass, leaving them amidst the debris. The aftermath has sparked a resolution, filed by Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, demanding the installation of crash-rated bollards at new hospital entrances to prevent similar tragedies.
In a case involving the late 57-year-old Michelle Holloway, an autopsy obtained by KVUE revealed blood-alcohol levels over three times the legal limit during the fatal crash. Holloway, an employee with the Department of Public Safety's Driver License Division, crashed into the hospital's waiting room, resulting in injuries to three adults and two children. Describing the harrowing experience, witness Michelle Cruz told KVUE that the loud crash and screams ensuing created a panic, with concerns about the victims' safety immediately surfacing.
Following the incident, which Austin police have classified as an accident, a million-dollar lawsuit was lodged against St. David's HealthCare by the Bernard family, accusing the institution of "gross negligence" for the absence of bollards that could have thwarted the entry of the vehicle. Subsequently, security barriers were installed at the hospital. The family's attorney, Sean Breen, stated unequivocally, "If St. David's had installed safety bollards there like it should have and did in other facilities, the car would have never crashed into the ER and the Bernard family never gets run over," as reported by KXAN.
Kelly's resolution, backed by her own observation of KXAN's investigation and three other council members, suggested an amendment to the city code to address hospital safety proactively. "The safety of our patients and their families, as well as our employees and visitors, is always our top priority. We do not comment on pending claims or litigation," an official statement from St. David's HealthCare previously said, despite the hospital having not commented yet on the surveillance video in question.
