Midland Memorial Hospital Chooses Not To Bill Victims Of Midland Train Tragedy
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 8, 2013
MIDLAND -- Victims of the Midland train tragedy who were treated at Midland Memorial Hospital won't have to pay any hospital bills.
M.M.H. has decided not to bill anyone who came to the facility for care after the November 15, 2012 accident.
Four military veterans were killed -- and 17 other people were injured -- when a Union Pacific freight train plowed into a Smith Industries flatbed trailer near the intersection of West Front Street and South Garfield Street.
The flatbed trailer was carrying 12 military veterans, their 12 wives and 2 escorts from downtown Midland to the Show of Support banquet at the Midland County Horseshoe Arena when tragedy struck.
Many of the victims of the crash were rushed to M.M.H. for treatment, and 2 of the 4 veterans who were killed in the crash were actually pronounced dead at the hospital.
The decision not to bill patients treated in the crash left M.M.H. with significant mass casualty medical service costs.
However, an anonymous philanthropist decided to give M.M.H. a generous donation to help cover the costs they took on.
The same philanthropist challenged M.M.H. board members to match the gift, and M.M.H. officials say many board members and others took on the challenge.
The Permian Basin Area Foundation then facilitated the collection of all the gifts.
The P.B.A.F. ultimately presented the donations to M.M.H. in a $100,000 grant.
M.M.H. officials say that the extraordinary gift serves as another reminder of how thoughtful and giving the West Texas community is, especially in times of tragedy.
M.M.H. has decided not to bill anyone who came to the facility for care after the November 15, 2012 accident.
Four military veterans were killed -- and 17 other people were injured -- when a Union Pacific freight train plowed into a Smith Industries flatbed trailer near the intersection of West Front Street and South Garfield Street.
The flatbed trailer was carrying 12 military veterans, their 12 wives and 2 escorts from downtown Midland to the Show of Support banquet at the Midland County Horseshoe Arena when tragedy struck.
Many of the victims of the crash were rushed to M.M.H. for treatment, and 2 of the 4 veterans who were killed in the crash were actually pronounced dead at the hospital.
The decision not to bill patients treated in the crash left M.M.H. with significant mass casualty medical service costs.
However, an anonymous philanthropist decided to give M.M.H. a generous donation to help cover the costs they took on.
The same philanthropist challenged M.M.H. board members to match the gift, and M.M.H. officials say many board members and others took on the challenge.
The Permian Basin Area Foundation then facilitated the collection of all the gifts.
The P.B.A.F. ultimately presented the donations to M.M.H. in a $100,000 grant.
M.M.H. officials say that the extraordinary gift serves as another reminder of how thoughtful and giving the West Texas community is, especially in times of tragedy.
