Sick of waiting? Woman accused of flooding ER
MORGANTON, N.C. -- A woman frustrated over a long wait at a North Carolina hospital emergency room is accused of using a lighter to set off the fire alarm and sprinklers, flooding the ER, reports CBS affiliate WBTV.
Katlyn Milligan, 20, was reportedly at the Carolina Health Care System in Morganton, about 75 miles northwest of Charlotte, June 10, with a family member who had a back issue. They had apparently been waiting for more than two hours when Milligan allegedly set off the sprinkler in the restroom just outside the waiting area.
About an inch of water filled one section of the hospital, reports the station. Officials say it forced them to evacuate the waiting areas, move the triage section, and caused more delays for those who were already waiting.
"It all happened at the busiest time of the day," Nursing Administrator David Everhart told the station.
Milligan's mother told WBTV her daughter was frustrated by the wait. Milligan was charged with burning personal property, damage to personal property, and molesting a fire extinguishing system (yes, that's what they call it), reports the Courier Online. She posted a $5,000 bond.
Damage estimates from the hospital aren't available yet.