Friday, December 17, 2010

** Alabama EMT, killed in Wednesday crash, leaves infant daughter behind

** Off duty Michigan paramedic jailed after drunken crash with EMS vehicle

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Montgomery, Alabama paramedic, killed Wednesday after being struck by a truck at an I-161 MVA accident scene near Hope Hull, had just become a new mother not a year ago. The Decatur Daily (Elizabeth Zimmerman/December 16) said Laura Elizabeth Pullam, 29, left behind a daughter, Belle, who would have turned one in January. Survived also by a husband, Pullam is being remembered by colleagues as an excellent medic who treated every patient with decency. Pullam, who worked with Care Ambulance, was responding to an MVA around 9 a.m. when truck driver Robert Allen Cumbie, 42, hit her. According to the news site, Cumbie growing impatient with slowed traffic and stopped vehicles at the icy accident scene, attempted to bypass the hold-up at a high rate of speed. He was not injured in the impact. Pullam, meanwhile, transported to Baptist Medical Center, died upon arrival. Funeral services are pending.

** A Genesee County, Michigan Sheriff’s paramedic found herself in the clink last week after hitting an EMS vehicle while off duty. The Flint Journal (Ron Fonger/December 9) said prehospital worker Kandy Jenkins, 41, who has worked for the county for three years, was suspended without pay following the accident. According to the news site, Jenkins’ blood alcohol level shortly after the 3 a.m. crash was 0.17. A police spokesman said Jenkins was charged under recently amended drunk driving laws. As per the revised statutes, heavier fines and penalties are leveled on those caught driving with blood alcohol levels more than two times the legal limit. Treatment programs are also usually required for convicted offenders.