| Year Honored | |
|---|---|
| 2008 | |
| Honoree | |
| Christa D Burchett | |
| Agency | |
| City of Paintsville Fire-Rescue-EMS | |
| Agency City | |
| Paintsville | |
| Agency State | |
| Kentucky | |
| Last Call | |
| 1/22/2008 | |
| Cause of Death | |
| Struck at Scene | |
| Biography | |
| "Christa was a dream employee," said Paintsville Mayor Bob Porter. "She worked all the time and she never complained." Her co-workers had a nickname for Christa, they called her their "hero" because of the many times she risked her life to save others. She edified what emergency service meant; she was at the top of her game, and she topped the list when it came to rescue.Christa Burchett, 33, of Lowmansville, Kentucky, was killed in a Line of Duty death on January 22, 2008. Ms. Burchett had responded to an accident. She and her pregnant patient stood in the doorway of the rear of the ambulance when they were hit and killed. The driver of an 18-wheel tractor-truck loaded with coal lost control on the icy slick roads and hit a car, sideswiped the police cruiser and then slammed into Christa and her patient. She was taken to Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center in Paintsville where she died later in the morning.Christa was the Director of the Paintsville Fire-EMS in Paintsville, Kentucky. She also served the agency as a paramedic."It is a tragedy to lose one so gifted at her job in EMS," stated Tonga Dingess, friend of Burchett. "She loves what she did. That's all she ever thought about was helping someone else, "she said. "Christa died doing what she wanted to do. I don't think she would have wanted it any other way. She is indeed a hero."Honored 2008 |
The United States Official National EMS Memorial Service
