Girl Scout bus crash remembered 25 years later

It has been 25 years since the tragic events of the 1991 Girl Scout bus crash. Many across the Coachella Valley vividly remember the horror that led to the deaths of seven people. Now, on the anniversary, Desert Regional Medical Center is remembering those who lost their lives and are honoring those who worked to save the others. Stephanie Tomlinson was on the bus when it went speeding down the road.

“Surreal, that sounds weird, but you don’t get on a school bus on a trip thinking you’re not going to make it down to continue your trip,” Tomlinson said.

She said if it wasn’t for the quick response of the staff at Desert Regional, she might not be alive. The event inspiring her career in the medical field, beginning at the same hospital she was treated at.

“I was able to treat patients in the same room I stayed at. I worked with the doctors who worked on me and I feel like I was able to repay them for the work they did on me,” Tomlinson said.

Desert Regional received the most critically injured after the accident, now many gathering to recount a moment they won’t forget.

“The medical staff, the nursing staff, pharmacists, employees from around the hospital unloading the helicopters and receiving the patients to triage in the emergency department,” said Dr. Frank Ercoli.

At the time, supervisor John Benoit was the Indio CHP commander.

“When I finally arrived at the scene and saw the bus and a number of people being triaged around and it was the largest mass casualty scene I’d seen probably still have seen, personally,” Benoit said.

A plaque placed at the hospital, a reminder of the horrific moments and how the community rallied to save as many lives as possible. Something Tomlinson says she will forever be grateful for.

“Amazing, because that was 25 years ago. I was 16; now I’m 25 years older. Not everybody got the chance to live an extra 25 years. Unbelievably lucky,” Tomlinson said.