I always go by what one of our lecturers said one time (also happens to be an attorney).....do what's in the best interest of the patient. The jury would like to see that versus the opposite.
If I can't confirm what the family's wishes are, then I would tend to take the patient to the closest appropriate facility. That's not to say I don't "trust" the EMS crew on the scene. If you didn't directly talk to the family, then transported to the Level III center, then they could try to make the argument that they never told you to go there. And no one can fault you for doing what's in the best interest of the patient.
Personally, I think you made the right decision, given the information, to go to the Level I center.
