Wednesday, February 20, 2013

** Nova Scotia paramedic charged with drug offences

** Massachusetts EMT dies alongside son in off duty MVA

CANADA NEWS

** A Nova Scotia paramedic was arrested Thursday on charges related to narcotics missing from his ambulance station. The Canadian Press (February 15) said Halifax medic Zachary Dewar, 25, has been tagged with breach of trust, mischief, theft and possession of a controlled substance. Dewar was stopped by police after he left his ambulance station following his duty shift. His employer, Emergency Health Services, contacted authorities after noticing some drugs were missing late last month. CBC News (February 15) said Dewar has since been fired and his licence suspended. He is set to make his first court appearance April 23.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The EMS community in Ashby, Massachusetts is mourning after an area EMT and her 16-year-old son died in a car/truck crash Saturday. The Telegram (February 18) said Michelle Martens, 36, and Justin Fournier, 16, died after their KIA crossed the center line into an opposing pickup truck around 10:30 a.m. Police told the newspaper it remains unclear which of the two was behind the wheel at the time. Martens, who was also a volunteer with the local fire department, was a well known member of the community. Both her father and grandfather were assistant fire chiefs. She leaves a 12-year-old daughter and parents behind.