(Smithtown, NY)…In
December 2013, Kari Hunt Dunn met her estranged husband in a Texas hotel room
so that he could visit their three children, ages nine, four and three, at the
time. During the meeting, Kari’s husband forced her into the bathroom and began
stabbing her. Kari’s then nine year old daughter did what every child is
instructed to do in case of an emergency – she dialed 911. The call did not go
through and she kept trying. She dialed four times but never reached emergency
personnel. The reason was, unbeknownst to her, that particular hotel’s
multi-line phone system required her to dial “9” first to reach an outside
line. Tragically, Kari died from the wounds suffered during the attack.
After learning of this tragedy, Legislator Trotta sponsored legislation (IR 1325) to ensure access to emergency services when dialing 911 from hotels, motels and businesses in Suffolk County. The bill was passed unanimously at the July 29, 2014 meeting of the full Legislature. It was the first bill requiring direct access to be passed in any county or state. “Residents expect that if they dial 911 from a phone they will reach a dispatcher who can help. But this was not always true until now,” said Legislator Trotta. “I met the Hunt family when they came to speak in support of my legislation and I am so proud of them for getting this legislation to become a national law, which Congress passed on what would have been Kari’s 36 birthday. Mr. Hunt invited me to attend the bill signing with the President, but unfortunately a legislative meeting required me to be in Suffolk County. The Hunt family worked tirelessly and should be very proud of the number of lives that will be saved by their devotion to Kari,” added Trotta.
Captions:
Pictured at the press conference in June of 2014 are from left, Kari’s
parents, D.J. and Hank Hunt, former Suffolk County Legislator Steven Stern,
Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta, John Tsunis, chair of the New York
State Hospitality and Tourism Association and in the rear EMTs from Setauket.
The Hunt family and other concerned individuals are with President
Trump in the Oval office
as he signs Kari’s Law into effect requiring multi
line phones to provide access to 911.