Susan Ferguson lives in Davidson County but near both Sumner and Robertson counties. She pays Metro property taxes and has Davidson County automobile license plates.

Video: Word On The Street (9/3/07)

Two weeks ago, Ferguson and her 73-year-old mother were in her pasture when her mother was kicked by a horse. After the incident, her mother was having a hard time breathing.

Ferguson, who lives about an eighth of a mile from Sumner County, called Metro 911 on her cell phone. She was automatically transferred to Sumner County 911 who shifted her back to Metro. She was then disconnected.

Her second 911 call again went to Sumner County, was transferred to Metro and again disconnected.

Ferguson said she put her mother in her car and headed for the Goodlettsville Fire Department, where a Metro ambulance is stationed.

She was stopped briefly for speeding by a Metro officer, who then followed her to the fire hall. But there was no ambulance there.

To make a long story short, Ferguson then drove her mother to St. Thomas Hospital.

So what happened with 911?

Ferguson's cell phone calls went to the nearest cell phone tower, which was in Sumner County.

"The towers don't know where you are calling from," explained Metro's 911 Assistant Director Jeannie Mallory.

In addition, she said, Sumner County 911 had a problem and two of Ferguson's calls never reached Metro.

Susan Ferguson was told if she had used a landline phone she would have been connected with Metro 911.

"The last time I checked," she said, "There are no phone jacks in my pasture."