Manitoba woman called 911 after fiery crash, had to repeat herself 3 times while waiting to give first aid

A Winnipeg woman forced to repeat herself three times after calling 911 about a serious head-on collision in northern Manitoba is frustrated that repetition is considered standard procedure by the people in charge of responding to emergencies.

Jennifer Larsen spent 14 minutes on the phone Monday, answering some of the same questions from three different individuals, while around her, a vehicle was on fire and frenzied bystanders rushed to pull people out of their vehicles and provide care.

Larsen was the first person to call 911 Monday following a head-on collision on Highway 6, approximately 40 kilometres south of Grand Rapids, that claimed two lives and injured five others.

She was a passenger in a vehicle that was travelling directly behind the collision involving a SUV and minivan, which happened around 3:45 p.m.

Larsen said she was desperate to put her first aid training to use, but was stuck on the phone longer than expected.

"With each transfer and repetition during the 911 call, there's a growing frustration that I've provided this information," said Larsen, who is married to a CBC Manitoba employee.

"The more I could be doing right now requires that I not be on the phone and that I be actively first aiding."

While tied up on the phone, Larsen said other bystanders were scrambling to ensure everybody's safety. She told one of the people she spoke with that one person was trapped.

"I did several times try to communicate to them that the car was on fire, which had me very concerned that there was not a lot of time perhaps to deal with this situation," said Larsen.

A police vehicle patrolling Highway 6 ultimately came across the crash before any of the dispatched emergency responders arrived.

Police say a 23-year-old woman in the front passenger seat of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. She's been identified by Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation as Marybelle Yetman, a "wonderful mother of two beautiful girls and a handsome son," as well as a devoted partner. Her family has requested privacy at this time, Chief Angela Levasseur said.

Two other passengers in that vehicle, and the 23-year-old man driving, had non-life threatening injuries.

A 42-year-old woman in the minivan's front passenger seat was rushed to a nursing station, where she died. Another passenger and the 54-year-old man who was driving had non-life-threatening injuries.

RCMP believe the SUV crossed the centre line into the minivan's path, but the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been laid.