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Sleepy Hollow Chief: Harrison Runner's Death Not Caused By Delays

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – The death of Harrison runner Steven Gates in the annual Sleepy Hollow Halloween 10K race was not the result of a delay in emergency response, Sleepy Hollow Police Chief Gregory Camp said.

There was no response delay involved in a runner's death during the Sleepy Hollow Halloween 10K, according to Sleepy Hollow Police Chief Gregory Camp.

There was no response delay involved in a runner's death during the Sleepy Hollow Halloween 10K, according to Sleepy Hollow Police Chief Gregory Camp.

Photo Credit: Meredith Shamburger

“Proper care was provided and all efforts were made in an attempt to save his life,” Camp said.

Gates, 54, collapsed around 10 a.m. on Fremont Road in the Sleepy Hollow Manor neighborhood during the race. He was later pronounced dead.

Gates worked as a music executive at RCA Victor and at Steven M. Gates Music.

Sleepy Hollow village officials released an investigation report examining Gates' death and whether first responders took too long to respond to several 9-1-1 calls during the October race.

Several residents had criticized the response time, saying it had taken 15 to 20 minutes.

SHVAC and Phelps Memorial Hospital had several people stationed along the race route to assist as needed. Hospital personnel staffed a medical tent at the start/finish area on Beekman Avenue, Camp said. Two ambulances and a “fly car” containing an Ossining paramedic were stationed along the route, Camp said.

Audio logs, reports and time stamps on an EKG machine indicate that paramedics were on hand within five minutes of the first 9-1-1 call, Camp said, and officials had the “necessary and proper equipment” to render aid.

Police records indicate that a paramedic arrived at the scene at 10:03 a.m. as a civilian was performing CPR on the runner. Chief Edgar Brennan, of the Sleepy Hollow Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and another paramedic arrived at 10:04 and 10:05 a.m., Camp said.

A Sleepy Hollow ambulance arrived at 10:10 a.m. and took Gates to Phelps Memorial Hospital at 10:20 a.m., Camp said.

“Steven Gates had a cardiac arrest event and ultimately passed away as a result of this 'heart attack,'” Camp said.

Camp said criticism of the response time could be attributed to the fact that residents were not aware that officials had arrived in non-marked cars. The first paramedic, he said, arrived in a black Ford sedan. The other officials arrived in SUVs.

“Critics were looking for the ambulance and police cars,” he said.

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