By Bill Carey
EMS1 Staff
DOUGLAS, Ga. — Two first responders killed in an ambulance crash 10 years ago were honored and remembered at the Coffee County Regional Medical Center Serenity Garden.
Teresa Davis and Randall Whiddon were transporting a 65-year-old patient to Tift Regional Medical Center due to a lack of bed space when their ambulance collided with a truck on June 6, 2013, WALB reported. The patient also died in the crash.
The family told WALB that having community support is important.
“They give up a third of their lives to do a job like this. It is nice to still see so many people remember and recognize them and what they sacrificed,” Ben Whiddon, Randall Whiddon’s son, said.
Teresa Davis’s son, Benjamin was 17 when his mother died. He said she inspired him to join the Coffee County EMT team.
“She was just always smiling and that’s the one thing everyone complimented her on was that she was always smiling regardless of what it was,” Benjamin said.
Coffee County EMS Director Andy Smith said the people who work in EMS are passionate about what they do.
“Public safety is a tight net group, but the reward is that you’re helping people and helping your community and you’re bettering the world,” Smith said.