[UPDATE 10:45 p.m.: Located!] Law Enforcement on the Lookout for 64-Year-Old Humboldt County Man Who Was Hospitalized in Willits on Monday, Discharged, and Not Seen Since
Emergency personnel at the scene of the missing man’s crash on Monday. [Pictures provided to us by a Mendocino County Resident]
David is a resident of Eureka and was driving south to the Bay Area for medical treatment, according to Kelsey.
Kelsey said she has contacted bars, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and taxi companies in the area to no avail.
David Arnot [Photo provided by his daughter]
The traffic accident occurred at approximately 3:46 p.m. on Monday when Arnot’s Nissan Rogue veered off Highway 101 and he required hospitalization.
Kelsey described her father David Arnot as 6 feet tall and approximately 250 pounds. His hair is reportedly thinning and dark brown/black and his eyes are green. David is said to have a “big belly like Santa” and could be swollen “from retaining fluids due to being in heart and kidney failure.” Kelsey told us her father usually wears clean clothes but “given what’s going on, who knows.”
If any member of the public has information regarding Arnot’s whereabouts, you can reach his daughter Kelsey at (530) 598-0023, email her at [email protected], or search for her name on Facebook to message her.
If you would rather contact law enforcement directly, contact the Willit’s Police Department at (707) 459-6122. California Highway Patrol Office in Garberville (707) 923-2155.
UPDATE 9 p.m.: Kelsey Arnot, David Arnot’s daughter, told us she has been able to locate a reservation for her father on the Amtrak bus that runs between Willits and Eureka for him tomorrow. She has yet to speak with him, but told us she plans to meet him in Eureka tomorrow to ensure he is of good health.
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Is the officer’s name Fowler?
As opposed to Flower?
I’m so sorry family for the situation. This is typical for Mendocino County Services. Whether it’s the hospital, jail, or some type of shelter situation when you’re done you’re done with services. They kick you out without investigating where you need to go or what you need to get there. No transportation who’s going to pick you up? Too many times outcomes like this occur in Mendocino County. If we really reflected back on the discharges from the hospitals rehabs, jails, we would find that many people have the same thing happen to them. Mendocino County should be ashamed of their selves where the hell’s the discharge planners arranging for transport??? Oh he didn’t have a proper payment method so it was DENIED. Couldn’t call the daughter to come pick him up just kick his ass out on the streets after his car is wrecked at 10:30 at night. Nothing could go wrong.
It’s not just Mendocino. Pretty sure it’s a result of lack of funding in the system and overwhelmed workers. Most people in the medical care system started off there because they do care for people. Why do we in the USA pay more than other countries yet our health care systems are so underfunded?! Where is the money going? I think we know the answer and it is not political- both parties have sold us out..I fully agree that people released on their own should be offered a safe spot or a ride to one. Imagine how much better we would be as a society if our taxes actually went to helping each other out in crisis than a rich guy’s fat wallet!
MEDICARE4ALL
Looking at maps of both hospital sites. If he was discharged from Willits but thinking he was in Eureka, he might have left in the similar direction (east). I hope they find him soon!
The new hospital there is located a bit awry for anyone ill and on foot. I hope they find him alive really soon!
Terrible that:
As a physician in the Bay Area once told me: The lack of quality healthcare in Humboldt is placing your life at serious risk. I was shocked at their candidness and accuracy.
Life expectancy in Mendo is like 8 years less than Bay Area. I’d bet it’s even lower in Humboldt.
It looks like railroad tracks pass by the hospital in Willits. I’d start looking there.
Smart
That’s pretty rough somebody’s in a car crash and then just pop them out on the streets. Don’t even bother to see if he’s got a ride or make sure he’s okay other things can show up later. Anybody remember that young lady that flipped her relatives car north of Willits and she got out and declined Medical Care and they found her deceased less than a half a mile from where the crash happened months later. I hope you find your dad and the hospital needs to do a better job when they let people go of making sure they have somewhere to go, or someone to pick them up.
Hey you guys ….Am I the only one slightly concerned that the hospital released him without securing medical transport or at the very least a ride home with some one ? I mean , he came in via ambulance in the first place !!!!!! We have amazing first responders and some pretty fantastic hospital staff as well , and I appreciate everyone who looks out for our community!! But the flip side of things is rather scary …….
I agree. It was close to 11:00 when they discharged him. That’s like the jail. Must be more to the story
If you don’t have insurance, the hospital will just throw you out. They will not let you spend a single extra moment at the ER. It’s humiliating.
A few years ago when Dr. O’Brien was the CEO at St. Joes and Dr. Parks was the Chief Medical Officer and the place was by then owned by Providence, I was on a project for around a year the purpose of which was: How can we discharge patients as fast as possible once nobody (read: gov’t, private insur.) is paying for them to be here? I mean, these executives were hell bent on kicking people out the moment the $ meter expired. They didn’t care in the least what happened to the people and openly discussed how they were already, at that time, routinely paying cab fare to get patients (even quite sick ones) off the property and to the Greyhound station, city bus stop, library, wherever. It was all very matter of fact and business-like: Get. Them. Out. Of. Here. ASAP. Sickening.
That is against the law! Hospitals have to treat you with or without insurance.
We don’t know why he was released from the hospital. A person who is not incompetent can choose to leave when they want. They can say they have someone coming or have made arrangements or simply refuse to stay or not give anyone as a contact. It doesn’t have to be the truth. The hospital can’t hold him nor waive the cost of his staying covered if there is no medical cause for his stay.
I’m not saying he did any of those things. I know I have done them when I wanted to be independent even if was not the wisest thing. I lucked out although it was a close run thing a couple of times. There is no convenient way for a person to get to out of the area medical care . Which there should be since care is not always available here.
I wish the best for his family in finding him safe and sound. There are so many possibilities and not an easy situation. Hopefully he found his way to continue safely..
Yes , people can leave of their own accord , sometimes . While I would hope I’m competent , they have asked me to stay multiple times for various reasons over the years , when I know myself as fine to drive ( I also recognize when I’m not ok guys – looking out for all of us ) I myself have experienced the hospital very insistent that I have a ride home , as well as send me home with a small Norco , as opposed to “ medicating “ me in the hospital out of fear of my drive home to Laytonville…. I also have a very specific memory of a local Christmas party where an ambulance took a VERY intoxicated individual away from the scene , as the group was concerned for his well being & had the driver come over to the Lions hall as the driver was outside the fire station already … the gentleman ended up being released to the parking lot – still drunk , no call to his wife or employer , and he was subsequently arrested . The booking photo made the rounds , I actually printed a copy and presented it as Christmas gift …. He was obviously in no state to be out ; and it was unfortunate that spent the night in jail , as he had never intended to be that intoxicated at work function . ( and no one intended to over pour / it happens )
All I am saying with this is that I don’t think they are properly assessing individuals leaving . Or maybe they aren’t sharing with us everything, but someone obviously dropped the ball you guys!
I hope he is located soon
I agree with you, although someone did point out if he is of sound mind he can decide against medical treatment but still, he was just in an accident at the very least contact a family member to let them know they discharged from the hospital. I just feel like maybe the whole story is not here and there are some missing parts. I know that people can discharge themselves I’ve done it after having a baby against doctors reccomendations, so people do that but, I still feel like someone should have been notified, even maybe just a call to police to talk to him. I don’t this is just a scary situation and I hope he is found safe and ok.
It seems to me that due to his heath conditions, “from retaining fluids due to being in heart and kidney failure.” someone should have been driving him to the appointments. These are not conditions anyone should drive with.
So, glad he’s been found and no one else was hurt.
If it was legally the case that those conditions required driving restrictions, then the diagnosing doctor would be legally required to report it to the DMV for license restrictions.
KYM, am I on moderation again and if so why?
No insults made.
No Drama.
No extra links.
No posts deleted.
Just trying to discourage me from posting?
You are not on moderation. However, wordpress’ commenting moderation has held you since you posted those multiple links. I have done all I know to release you from moderation. The last time this happened it gradually got better over time. That doesn’t make sense. But nonetheless that is what happened. And…no, I am not discouraging you from posting.
So glad he has been found! Thankfully he has a persistent daughter who kept looking out for him. That’s really what it takes these days like always- people caring for each other and not giving up
I am very happy he has been located and is ok. A good ending to a missing person story.