The grief is far too new and far too
painful for Gina Gaddi, her cousin
Randy Reese is dead, the home
she shared with him a pile of ash.
I have a big problem with it.
I had a real big problem when I'm had to
the funeral and probably about to face.
The problem Gina is facing has to do
with what once was the dowdy Ferrybridge.
Because of dangerous decay, the bridge
was blown up last June, separating
his home from the Hutchins' Fire
Department by several miles
with the bridge being out.
We have to go about five miles farther
because we have to go down 45 to 20,
out 20 to the other in the Daudi ferry
and come back.
So it increases our response time quite a
bit.
Normally, Hutchins' would have responded
first, but because the bridges out Dallas
County Fire and Rescue took the call,
Hutchins' came later to help.
If we'd
had the bridge, we'd probably been there
five to seven minutes faster than what we
were. There's really no telling what
could have happened if this bridge had
been intact.
But Randy Reese's family will always
wonder if this could have been the link
that could have saved his life.
Turner says it's frustrating for
firefighters to have the bridge out
and its anguish for a family
that's lost a loved one at the bridge
would have been done.
We could put 20 minutes down to like
maybe two in.
My cousin wants to be alone
in a question
that will haunt those who loved Randy
Reese for a long, long time.
Heather McKensie, Texas News 5.