** Off duty South African paramedic shot and killed
** West Virginia medic sued for alleged inattention at wheel during ambulance/car collision
SOUTH AFRICA NEWS
** A memorial service is set for later this week for an off duty paramedic shot and killed Saturday in
Mlalze, KwaZulu-Natal. The Independent (Zainul Dawood/November 4) said Vincent Buthelezi, 42, died
from a gunshot wound to the head. Police say they do not know the motive for the crime, but robbery was
not the incentive. Buthelezi’s cell phone and other valuables were still on his body when he was found.
He had worked EMS since 2007. The killing comes just one week after an ambulance was hijacked near
Durban.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A West Virginia couple is suing a Calhoun County ambulance service and medic after an EMS unit/car
collision resulted in the duo suffering head, neck, knee and chest injuries. The West Virginia Record
(Annie Crosby/November 4) said the pair claim the July 6, 2013 accident resulted from the inattention of the
driver of the prehospital rig. Teresa and Holly D. Starcher say Jan-Care medic Charles Messenger was busy
chatting up his partner at the time of the crash and did not see the Starcher’s car when he merged into their
lane. The Starcher’s vehicle left the road and went into a ditch. The lawsuit, filed September 24th,
alleges Messenger’s negligence. Both Jan-Care and Messenger are named in the action. There is no word
on a court date for the suit.
