KENNETT, Mo. - Just after 9:15 p.m. on a warm, humid Friday in July, Dunklin County Emergency Services dispatchers received an automated alert from Apple.
The signal reported a vehicle crash.
The warning recording informed dispatch of the device’s location and police responded to dispatch’s call.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper TS Reinke and Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies converged on Missouri NN, where officers discovered a motorcycle wiped out in a curve at Gobler.
Reinke reported the 52-year-old Blytheville resident’s 2024 Harley Davidson was a total loss.
The driver suffered moderate injuries and was rushed by Medic One Ambulance Service for treatment at Great River Medial Center at Blytheville.
While at the crash, a DCSO deputy found the injured driver’s iPhone several feet from the driver’s reach.
The device still had the emergency crash detection activation displayed, advising 911 Emergency Services had been contacted.
Dunklin County E-911 Supervisor Rachael Bowles noted it’s a feature that goes unnoticed by many iPhone users.
And one that speeded emergency services and medics to the injured victim quickly, with little or no effort.
When supported Apple watches or iPhones, generally iPhone 8 or newer, detect severe car crashes, the devices check in with users and dials 911 if they are unresponsive after a 10-second countdown, according to a Dunklin County E911 Emergency Services statement.
Dunko E-911 is a RapidSOS Ready agency. Bowles said. It employs software that extracts unique data from supported devices.
This ensures the most accurate information is provided to dispatch so response times are minimized and emergency services are maximized.
Bowles and staff remind area residents to activate the feature on supported iPhones.
Crash Detection is turned on by default. And users can take these steps to make sure devices are able to share information that emergency contacts and emergency responders need, E911 Services indicated.
Access the Health app on supported iPhones. To share your location with your emergency contacts, turn on Location Services for Emergency SOS.
On your iPhone, tap Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services, and make sure Emergency Calls & SOS is turned on.
For Apple support and advice regarding the feature, log on to Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone - Apple Support
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