The pair heard the county dispatch center radio a call stating that the man involved in the crash was suffering a heart attack, and Richards and Cleavenger immediately jumped into action, radioing back that they would be responding with an AED as they were only a block and a half away. As they arrived at the scene, they found an unresponsive driver in one of the vehicles, and Richards immediately began applying the AED while Cleavenger administered chest compressions. Shortly afterward, paramedics from the Plymouth Fire Department arrived on the scene along with other emergency services and took over caring for the patient.
The driver, who has not been identified, was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth for evaluation.
Cleavenger said the incident highlighted the importance of having county vehicles equipped with AEDs, a result of the efforts of Chief Deputy and former coroner John Grolich, who was a driving force in having county emergency vehicles furnished with portable AEDs.
