> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Emergency workers respond - URL: https://www.smdp.com/emergency-workers-respond/ - Published: 2003-07-17T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T02:32:23.000Z - Author: Carolyn Sackariason - Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import *Emergency workers will be provided with counseling* In one of the largest tragedies in city’s history, response teams establish plan quickly More than 300 emergency workers from nearly a dozen agencies responded to Wednesday’s tragic scene at the Farmer’s Market on the Third Street Promenade where at least nine people died and dozens were injured. The Santa Monica Police and Fire departments arrived on scene first, along with countless civilians who began treating the injured and helping emergency workers separate the most critical cases from those who had minor injuries. Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. said his department immediately deployed 45 people to respond to a call that an elderly man had plowed through two blocks of a crowded farmer’s market in downtown Santa Monica with his car. Police began interviewing witnesses to determine what had occurred and to find a suspect, if there was one. “We start it as a criminal matter, then 2400 Main Street, Santa Monica 310.314.6472 make a determination,” Butts said. “Police response is immediate and designed to stabilize the situation.” Santa Monica Fire Department personnel, who are responsible for treating the wounded, immediately began assessing the situation through triage and working with civilians on the scene. Fire departments have certain procedures set up for specific emergency situations in order to respond most efficiently. Wednesday’s scene was classified as a “Multi-Casualty Incident” and all units of the SMFD responded to the scene within minutes. Because of the enormity of the situation, emergency personnel realized that many more resources were needed and began calling outside agencies to help. “We have a saying in the fire department, ‘If you do it strong, you’ll never be wrong,’” said SMFD Chief Ettore Berardinelli. At least two helicopters were brought into the downtown area to transport victims to six different hospitals. Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Hospital spokesman Ted Braun received 12 of the victims including one critically injured infant, three seriously injured adults and eight people with minor injuries. The Red Cross can also be called at (310) 394-3773 for information relating to the victims. “It was unending carnage, it didn’t end,” Berardinelli said. “The further you walked, the more you saw.” Emergency workers immediately began assessing victims’ injuries, tagged them, moved them to the treatment area and set up teams to handle their treatment. “As the event becomes more clear, you can respond,” Berardinelli said. “With a scene like this, organization is the key to success... “An incident like this you practice for but the real thing is never quite the same,” he added. “But they just went to work and did a great job. I believe our personnel did everything they could to save people’s lives.” The American Red Cross was on scene within a matter of minutes to provide support. A feeding station for victims, police and fire crews and relatives of victims was set up almost immediately, according to John Pacheco, interim executive director American Red Cross in Santa Monica. Personnel from the Red Cross handled the thousands of phone calls from people seeking information about the situation. They’ll set up a Bloodmobile today to replenish blood supplies that were used to treat people on Wednesday. Pacheco did-n’t know where that would be but said people who want to donate blood can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to find out where the Bloodmobile will be. By most emergency workers’ accounts, they have never responded to a scene as tragic or as enormous as what occurred on Wednesday. “It was the worst event I’ve seen in my 31 years,” Berardinelli said. “It was terrible, there are no other words to describe it.” > “It was the worst event I’ve seen in my 31 years.” — — ETTORE BERARDINELLI SMFD chief Chief Butts agreed. “This is the worst thing I’ve seen in my 30 years of law enforcement,” he said, adding that the severity of the scene hit home when he saw the body of a toddler lying in the street. “Seeing the 3-year-old was just devastating to me.” Police and fire personnel were debriefed Wednesday night and multiple mental health counselors will be on hand to help them with their own grief from what they encountered. “Nothing like this has happened before,” Berardinelli said. “We will have professional help for anyone who needs it.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/071703-03_02.jpg) Emergency workers carry a victim to the triage area Wednesday after the tragedy struck the Farmer’s Market. (Photo: John Wood/Daily Press) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/071703-03_03.jpg) Santa Monica Police Chief James T. (Photo: Carolyn Sackaraison/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 17, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071703.pdf?ref=smdp.com)