Hearings sought in fatal ambulance delay

City Councilwoman Joan L. Krajewski yesterday called for hearings to investigate the death of a woman who died waiting 1 hour, 41 minutes for an ambulance on New Year's Day.

Krajewski said Deborah Payne, 55, waited 63 minutes for an ambulance to take her to a hospital after she called 911 to complain of breathing problems. The first ambulance stalled after she was loaded in; by the time a backup arrived 38 minutes later, Payne, who lived on Rowland Avenue the Northeast, was dead.

Krajewski said she wanted to hear from firefighters and paramedics on how to address widespread problems with the city's EMS system.

- Jeff Shields