{"id":8879,"date":"2025-05-01T06:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T10:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/?p=8879"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:45:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:45:04","slug":"ems-lodd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/ems-lodd\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Ambulance, Rescue, and EMS Line of Duty Deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

Change Log:
\nAdded Paul Boyer, Fort Bragg, who died on 10\/22\/09. (May 5, 2025)
\nAdded Duke Life Flight members who died on 9\/8\/17. (May 4, 2025)<\/p>\n

Presenting a list of ambulance driver, rescue squad member, and EMS agency member line of duty deaths, but excludes fire-based EMS agency members (for now). Most of these names are listed on the National EMS Memorial Service<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

See this Google Drive folder<\/a> of research materials.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/strong><\/td>\nName<\/strong><\/td>\nAgency<\/strong><\/td>\nCity<\/strong><\/td>\nCause<\/strong><\/td>\nListed on
\nNEM?<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6\/8\/1933<\/td>\nArthur C. Funderburk Jr.<\/td>\nDouglas & Sing Funeral Home<\/td>\nCharlotte<\/td>\nMVC, Ambulance<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7\/15\/1949<\/td>\nZell J. Watson<\/td>\nYelverton Funeral Home<\/td>\nRaleigh<\/td>\nMVC, Ambulance<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\/12\/1953<\/td>\nJohn H. Miles<\/td>\nHigh Point Rescue Squad<\/td>\nHigh Point<\/td>\nMVC, Non-Ambulance<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\/23\/1959<\/td>\nRobert L. Battle<\/td>\nRaleigh Emergency Rescue Squad<\/td>\nRaleigh<\/td>\nDrowning<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/28\/1976<\/td>\nJames M Hickman<\/td>\nGoldsboro Rescue & EMS<\/td>\nGoldsboro<\/td>\nDrowning<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11\/7\/1976<\/td>\nKenneth Lee Davis<\/td>\nGoldsboro Rescue & EMS<\/td>\nGoldsboro<\/td>\nMVC, Ambulance<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12\/20\/1979<\/td>\nJohn A. Pierce<\/td>\nEnfield Rescue Squad<\/td>\nEnfield<\/td>\nMVC, Non-Ambulance<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/25\/1984<\/td>\nStephen Gray “Steve” Richey<\/td>\nForsyth Rescue Squad<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/23\/1986<\/td>\nBarry Wayne Day<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/23\/1986<\/td>\nKaren Simpson<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/23\/1986<\/td>\nBarbara Burdett<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\/8\/1987<\/td>\nPerry Lee Reynolds<\/td>\nPitt County Memorial Hospital East Care<\/td>\nGreenville<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\/8\/1987<\/td>\nMike Patrick McGinnis<\/td>\nPitt County Memorial Hospital East Care<\/td>\nGreenville<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\/8\/1987<\/td>\nPamela M. Demaree<\/td>\nPitt County Memorial Hospital East Care<\/td>\nGreenville<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10\/10\/1987<\/td>\nElaine Pruitt Lyda<\/td>\nClarkton Rescue Squad<\/td>\nClarkton<\/td>\nMVC, Non-Ambulance<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/26\/1989<\/td>\nClaude Clara “C.C.” Duvall II<\/td>\nDare County EMS Medflight<\/td>\nManteo<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/26\/1989<\/td>\nStephanie Willoughby<\/td>\nDare County EMS Medflight<\/td>\nManteo<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/16\/1991<\/td>\nCarl E. “Buggs” Hensley<\/td>\nPiedmont Triad Ambulance and Rescue<\/td>\nHigh Point<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5\/2\/1991<\/td>\nHarvey Jennings “Butch” Lamm<\/td>\nMt. Pleasant Rescue Squad<\/td>\nBailey<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7\/21\/1991<\/td>\nWayne Dale Rice<\/td>\nDallas Rescue Squad<\/td>\nDallas<\/td>\nMVC, Non-Ambulance<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/3\/1992<\/td>\nEddie Jones, Jr.<\/td>\nHarrells Rescue Squad<\/td>\nRose Hill<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\/22\/1994<\/td>\nMichael Travison<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\/22\/1994<\/td>\nAnthony Barbee<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\/22\/1994<\/td>\nDonna L Eaton<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\/22\/1994<\/td>\nKaren L Canada<\/td>\nAirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals<\/td>\nWinston-Salem<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\/9\/1995<\/td>\nMichael R Jackson<\/td>\nMid-South Ambulance Service<\/td>\nSmithfield<\/td>\nMVC, Ambulance<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\/29\/1999<\/td>\nGentry Randall Blevins<\/td>\nHelton Volunteer Ambulance<\/td>\nLansing<\/td>\nMVC, Non-Ambulance<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10\/16\/2000<\/td>\nJohn A Holland<\/td>\nDuke Life Flight<\/td>\nDurham<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5\/8\/2001<\/td>\nJohn G Rhodes<\/td>\nRandolph County EMS<\/td>\nAsheboro<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8\/19\/2002<\/td>\nJohn Lynn Moore<\/td>\nEllerbe Rescue Squad<\/td>\nEllerbe<\/td>\nStruck at Scene<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12\/31\/2005<\/td>\nLarry Doughton Crouse<\/td>\nAlleghany County EMS<\/td>\nAurora<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\/12\/2007<\/td>\nJoseph “Joe” Austin Jones<\/td>\nPilot Mountain Rescue<\/td>\nPilot Mountain<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5\/14\/2009<\/td>\nBonnie McNeil<\/td>\nUnion Rescue Squad<\/td>\nWillard<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10\/22\/09<\/td>\nPaul I. Boyer III<\/td>\nWomack Army Medical Center Ambulance Services<\/td>\nFort Bragg<\/td>\nMVC, Ambulance<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\/14\/2015<\/td>\nWilliam “Billy” Lawrence McKinney Jr.<\/td>\nRockingham County EMS<\/td>\nWentworth<\/td>\nStruck at scene<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/8\/2017<\/td>\nJeff Burke<\/td>\nDuke Life Flight<\/td>\nDurham<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/8\/2017<\/td>\nCrystal Sollinger<\/td>\nDuke Life Flight<\/td>\nDurham<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/8\/2017<\/td>\nKris Harrison<\/td>\nDuke Life Flight<\/td>\nDurham<\/td>\nAir Crash<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7\/9\/2017<\/td>\nFrank Roy Echevarria<\/td>\nCumberland County EMS<\/td>\nFayetteville<\/td>\nCardiac<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7\/22\/2020<\/td>\nDennis Lamont Hardy<\/td>\nBertie County Emergency Services<\/td>\nWindsor<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12\/3\/2020<\/td>\nDonald “DP” R. Paul<\/td>\nFirstHealth of the Carolinas Critical Care Transport<\/td>\nPinehurst<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12\/22\/2020<\/td>\nMilton Earl Reel<\/td>\nFarmville Rescue & EMS, Inc.<\/td>\nFarmville<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8\/10\/2021<\/td>\nVanessa Lynn Burris<\/td>\nCumberland County EMS<\/td>\nFayetteville<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/6\/2021<\/td>\nJohn Thomas “Thomas” Ring<\/td>\nWilkes County EMS<\/td>\nNorth Wilkesboro<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9\/22\/2021<\/td>\nDonna Maria Barrett Cagle<\/td>\nBladen County EMS<\/td>\nBladenboro<\/td>\nCOVID<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Before 1960<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arthur C. Funderburk Jr., 24<\/strong>
\nAmbulance driver
\nDouglas & Sing Funeral Home, Charlotte
\n6\/8\/1933
\nVehicle collision, ambulance collided with car while answering a call.
\nDied on June 8, 1933, when his ambulance was responding to a call on Second Street. At about 4:30 p.m., the ambulance collided with a car at the intersection of Cecil Street and Elizabeth Avenue. The driver of the car apparently failed to hear the siren and the two vehicles collided almost head-on. Funderburk died instantly. His assistant was transported in serious condition. A third car was also involved. The occupants of the automobiles were also seriously injured. Funderburk had been employed for three years at the funeral home.<\/p>\n

Zell J. Watson, 38<\/strong>
\nAmbulance driver
\nYelverton Funeral Home, Raleigh
\n7\/15\/1949
\nVehicle collision, ambulance collided with a car, while en route to the hospital.
\nDied on July 15, 1949, when his ambulance collided with a 1941 Ford Convertible at the intersection of Martin and Bloodworth streets at 9:30 p.m. The ambulance was transporting a patient and two friends to Rex Hospital. Driver Watson suffered a fractured skull and died at Rex Hospital from a cerebral hemorrhage. The three others in the ambulance were not seriously injured, nor were the four people in the automobile.
\nBuried at Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh, NC<\/p>\n

John H. Miles<\/strong>
\nHigh Point Rescue Squad, High Point
\n1\/12\/1953
\nVehicle collision, while returning from a call.
\nDied on January 12, 1953, while heading to High Rock Lake, to assist in the search for the bodies of two youths who were believed to be drowned. His pick-up truck collided with another truck shortly after noon on Highway 29 about one mile north of Lexington. Miles was pronounced dead on arrival at Lexington Memorial Hospital.<\/p>\n

Robert L. Battle, 45<\/strong>
\nRaleigh Emergency Rescue Squad, Raleigh
\n4\/23\/1959
\nDrowned, during a water recovery operation.
\nDied on April 23, 1959, while participating in a body search on the Cape Fear River near Buckhorn Dam. About five miles below the dam, Battle entered the water to swim out and investigate an object seen on the back of an overturned boat. He was unable to return to shore and drowned in the river. Battle was an employee of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and had worked as a night jailer for four years. He had previously worked as a Raleigh Police Officer.<\/p>\n

1960 to 1979<\/strong><\/p>\n

James M. Hickman, 35<\/strong>
\nGoldsboro Rescue Squad, Goldsboro
\n3\/28\/1976
\nDrowned, during a water recovery operation.
\nJames Hickman drowned during a water rescue operation on March 28, 1976. The incident started when four fishermen came too close to the turbulent suction of the swirling waters below Fish Ladder Dam on the Neuse River southwest of Goldsboro in North Carolina. Responding rescuers included members of Goldsboro Rescue Squad. Hickman was one of three squad members in a rescue boat. When the rescue boat also came too close to the swirling waters, all three squad members attempted to grab the tow rope and caused the boat to capsize. Two of the squad members were rescued, but Hickman slid under the water having suffered a head injury. Hickman was a volunteer EMT.
\nBuried at Wayne Memorial Park in Dudley, NC<\/p>\n

Kenneth Lee Davis, 27<\/strong>
\nGoldsboro Rescue Squad, Goldsboro
\n11\/7\/1976
\nVehicle collision, ambulance struck by car, while returning from call.
\nKenneth Davis died on November 7, 1976, when he and two other squad members were returning from a call where their services were not needed. The ambulance was struck by a car that ran a stop sign while traveling at a high rate of speed. The ambulance was pushed more than 55 feet. Davis was killed instantly, as were the occupants of the car. The two other squad members in the ambulance were seriously injured. Davis, 27, was a volunteer EMT with the squad. His other volunteer duties with his rescue squad included rescue driver, Secretary, Sergeant, and Lieutenant, and a member of the North Carolina Rescue Association. He posthumously received the Medal of Valor.
\nBuried at Wayne Memorial Park in Dudley, NC<\/p>\n

John A. Pierce<\/strong>
\nEnfield Rescue Squad, Enfield
\n12\/20\/1979
\nVehicle collision, personal vehicle struck while responding to call.
\nResponding to a call when his van struck a tractor-trailer truck that was backing across US 301. Pierce worked as a plant safety director at Carolina Enterprise in Tarboro.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1980 to 1989<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephen Gray “Steve” Richey, 33<\/strong>
\nForsyth Rescue Squad, Winston-Salem
\n9\/25\/1984
\nHelicopter crashed during high-level rescue\/recovery operation.
\nSteve Richey, 33, died on September 25, 1984, aboard a private helicopter that was attempting the rescue of an injured construction worker atop a water tower in Kernersville. The helicopter struck one of the tower\u2019s legs, knocking off the rear rotor, and causing the helicopter to spin to the ground and crash. Both Richey and the pilot were killed. Richey was a 13-year member of the Forsyth Rescue Squad, serving as a paramedic and an EMT IV. He was also the training instructor for North Carolina State Rescue College and for his squad. Richey had been honored as “squadsman of the year,” for his work in 1981-82, and was honored posthumously for the award in 1984. He was also honored by resolutions from the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, and the Kernersville Board of Alderman for his work on the incident in which he died.
\nBuried at Parklawn Memorial Park, Winston-Salem, NC<\/p>\n

Barry Wayne Day, 36<\/strong>
\nPilot
\nBuried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Hamilton, OH<\/p>\n

Karen Simpson, 30<\/strong>
\nNurse<\/p>\n

Barbara Burdett, 28<\/strong>
\nNurse<\/p>\n

AirCare, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Winston-Salem
\n9\/23\/1986
\nMedical helicopter crash en route to pick up patient.
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Perry Lee Reynolds, 39<\/strong>
\nPilot
\nBuried at Lafayette Memorial Park, Fayetteville, NC<\/p>\n

Mike Patrick McGinnis, 32<\/strong>
\nChief Flight Nurse
\nBuried at Alamance Memorial Park, Burlington, NC<\/p>\n

Pamela M. Demaree, 28<\/strong>
\nFlight Nurse
\nBuried at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, Wake Forest, NC<\/p>\n

Pitt County Memorial Hospital East Care, Greenville
\n1\/8\/1987
\nMedical helicopter crashed during patient transport.
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elaine Pruitt Lyda, 45
\n<\/strong>Clarkton Rescue Squad, Clarkton
\n10\/10\/1987
\nVehicle collision, personal vehicle struck while returning from squad event.
\nElaine Lyda had been a member of the squad for several years and served as squad Secretary and participated in fundraising. She was employed by the Joint Municipal Housing Cooperative in Elizabethtown. She represented the Clarkton Squad by serving as Secretary of the Area II region of the North Carolina Association of Rescue Squads (NCARS) and had recently been recognized for her contributions by being awarded Secretary of the Year by the NCARS.
\n\u00a0
\nClaude Clara “C.C.” Duvall II, 53<\/strong>
\nLead Pilot
\nBuried at Manteo Cemetery, Manteo, NC<\/p>\n

Stephanie Willoughby, 34<\/strong>
\nEMT<\/p>\n

Dare County EMS Medflight, Manteo
\n3\/26\/1989
\nMedical Aviation Accident
\nMedical helicopter crashed, returning from patient transport.
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1990 to 1999<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carl E. “Buggs” Hensley, 59<\/strong>
\nPiedmont Triad Ambulance and Rescue, High Point
\n3\/16\/1991
\nCardiac during training session.
\nDied on March 16, 1991, after suffering a heart attack during a training session on mountain rescue. Hensley was a charter member of High Point Rescue Squad, the prior name of the squad. He served as Captain. He was retired from Western Electric and was employed with Guilford County EMS.
\nBuried at Floral Garden Memorial Park, High Point, NC<\/p>\n

Harvey Jennings “Butch” Lamm, 39<\/strong>
\nMt. Pleasant Rescue Squad, Bailey
\n5\/2\/1991
\nCardiac during emergency call.
\nDied on May 2, 1991, of a heart attack suffered during a multi-day search and rescue call. His death was attributed to the stress and overexertion of the call that involved heavily wooded areas with vast fields and ponds that had to be dragged. Lamm joined MPRS in 1988 as an EMT and became a paramedic in 1990.
\nBuried at Bailey Cemetery, Bailey, NC<\/p>\n

Wayne Dale Rice, 21<\/strong>
\nDallas Rescue Squad, Dallas
\n7\/21\/1991
\nVehicle collision, personal vehicle struck, while returning from state EMT exam.
\nOn July 21, 1991, Rice died of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident the night before, when he and a second squad member were returning from Lenoir, where they had taken a portion of the state EMT exam. He was the owner of an automobile repair shop.
\nBuried at Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia, NC<\/p>\n

Eddie Jones, Jr., 74<\/strong>
\nHarrells Rescue Squad, Rose Hill
\n3\/3\/1992
\nHeart failure following emergency call.
\nOn March 3, 1992, Jones suffered a medical emergency during a non-emergency body transport call. After arriving at their destination, he was found unresponsive in the ambulance. He was transported to the hospital, where he died. He had suffered a severe asthma attack which caused heart failure. He had been a member of the squad since its founding in 1973 and served as co-captain. He had been awarded Rescue Member of the Year five times over the years. He also volunteered with Harrells VFD. He worked at a gas station that he owned.
\nBuried at Harrells Cemetery, Harrells, NC<\/p>\n

Michael Travison, 32
\n<\/strong>Co-pilot<\/p>\n

Anthony “Tony” Barbee, 45<\/strong>
\nPilot<\/p>\n

Donna L. Eaton, 33
\n<\/strong>Flight nurse<\/p>\n

Karen Lynn Canada, 38
\n<\/strong>Flight nurse<\/p>\n

Air Care, North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Winston-Salem
\n4\/22\/1994
\nMedical helicopter crashed, en route to patient pick-up.
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Michael R Jackson<\/strong>
\nMid-South Ambulance Service, Smithfield
\n2\/9\/1995
\nStruck in roadway, at accident scene, that their ambulance rolled upon.
\nDied on February 9, 1995, struck at the scene of a vehicle accident in Raleigh that his ambulance had come upon. Jackson and Lisa Langston were heading to Chapel Hill, on a routine trip to pick up a patient. On Interstate 40 in Wake County, they encountered a minor accident that had happened minutes earlier. The accident involved a tractor-trailer truck and two other vehicles. After both EMS members checked the vehicles for injured patients, Jackson walked in front of the ambulance to retrieve warning markers. The ambulance was struck from behind from the tractor-trailer truck, which had rolled down the incline and into the lane of the ambulance. Jackson was struck by both vehicles and died instantly. Jackson was also a member of both Smithfield and Four Oaks rescue squads and a former 911 dispatcher. He was also a special deputy with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department and had recently graduated from the local community college law-enforcement training program.<\/p>\n

Gentry Randall Blevins, 46<\/strong>
\nHelton Volunteer Ambulance, Lansing
\n3\/29\/1999
\nDied in a vehicle collision not involving an ambulance.
\nDied on March 29, 1999, of injuries resulting from a vehicle accident on Fees Branch Road in Lansing, while he was responding to a medical call. Blevins had been a responder for one-and-a-half years.
\nBuried in Jefferson, NC.<\/p>\n

2000 to 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n

John A Holland, 39<\/strong>
\nDuke Life Flight, Durham
\n10\/16\/2000
\nDied in a medical helicopter crash in Burlington, returning to base after being cancelled.
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

John G. Rhodes, 40<\/strong>
\nRandolph County EMS, Asheboro
\n5\/8\/2001
\nSuffered a heart attack at the EMS base.
\nJohn G. Rhodes, 40, died of a heart attack on May 8, 2001. He had just reported for duty at the EMS base in Archdale. He became ill during a shirt report and excused himself. When he didn’t return, his co-workers checked on him and he was found in full cardiac arrest. Medical care was started and he was transported to High Point Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Rhodes was a full-time employee of RCEMS, a tactical paramedic with the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team, and a part-time faculty member of the EMS program.<\/p>\n

John Lynn Moore, 42<\/strong>
\nEllerbe Rescue Squad, Ellerbe
\n8\/19\/2002
\nStruck by a truck at an accident scene on US 220.
\nJohn Lynn Moore, 42, died on August 19, 2002. He had stopped to assist at the scene of a single car accident on US 220 North. After assessing the accident, Moore called for the Highway Patrol. While waiting for assistance to arrive, Moore was struck and fatally injured by a tractor-trailer that lost control and jack-knifed across the road. Moore was a 17-year veteran of the squad, and had previously served with Cordova Rescue Squad. At ERS he had risen through the ranks of First Lieutenant, Assistant Chief, and Chief, a position he held from 1997 until his death. Moore was a certified EMT-D, Farm Medic, and ERT. <\/p>\n

Larry Doughton Crouse, 50<\/strong>
\nAlleghany County EMS, Aurora
\n12\/31\/2005
\nSuffered a heart attack at the EMS station.
\nLarry Doughton Crouse, 50, died on December 31, 2005. He was found by his fellow members on the floor of their facility, not breathing and without a pulse. He was transported to Alleghany Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Crouse had been an EMT-Paramedic with the agency since 1998. In previous years he served as captain of the squad, and had received the status of shift supervisor.
\nBuried at Cheek Family Cemetery in Alleghany County, NC.<\/p>\n

Joseph “Joe” Austin Jones, 72<\/strong>
\nPilot Mountain Rescue, Pilot Mountain
\n2\/12\/2007
\nDied of a heart attack while answering a call.
\nJoe A. Jones, 72, died on February 12, 2007. He suffered a massive heart attack while answering a call. Medical treatment was started at the scene, but he was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital. He was a 40-year veteran of the squad and a charter member.
\nBuried at Christian Community Baptist Church cemetery in Pilot Mountain, NC.<\/p>\n

Bonnie McNeil, 50<\/strong>
\nUnion Rescue Squad, Willard
\n5\/14\/2009
\nDied of a heart attack that she suffered, climbing into an ambulance to answer a call.
\nBonnie McNeil, 50, died on May 14, 2009. She was preparing to leave the scene of a medical call. As she started to enter the ambulance, she suffered a fatal heart attack. Bonnie McNeil worked as an EMT for the squad. She also volunteered at Penderlea FD.
\nBuried at Riverview Memorial Park, Willard, NC.<\/p>\n

\n
Paul I. Boyer III, 59
\n<\/strong>Womack Army Medical Center Ambulance Services, Fort Bragg<\/div>\n
10\/22\/2009
\nBoyer was en route to the base’s parachute drop zone in Hoke County when the ambulance he was riding in crashed. Boyer was riding in the front seat when the driver lost control and over-corrected, hitting nearby trees. Boyer had served as a paramedic with the ambulance service for 11 months. While attending paramedic school, he was a driver for the pediatric critical care ambulance team. He had been involved with EMS since 1976, serving with Durham County EMS and as a flight nurse with Carolina Air Care. He was also a firefighter and a policeman for West York Borough in York, PA.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

2010 to Present<\/strong><\/p>\n

William “Billy” Lawrence McKinney Jr., 42<\/strong>
\nCaptain
\nRockingham County EMS, Wentworth
\n1\/14\/2015\u00a0
\nStruck by a vehicle at the scene of an accident that he stopped at while returning home from his shift duty.
\nCaptain William \u201cBilly\u201d L. McKinney Jr., 42. died on January 14, 2015. That morning he just completed his 12-hour rotation and was headed home. The weather was poor with freezing rain, sleet, and hazardous road conditions. While traveling home, Billy stopped to assist a motorist in an accident due to road conditions. While assisting the motorist, he was struck and killed.
\nBuried at Thompsonville Baptist Church cemetery in Rockingham County, NC.<\/p>\n

Frank Roy Echevarria, 52<\/strong>
\nParamedic
\nCumberland County EMS, Fayetteville
\n7\/9\/2017
\nDied of an apparent heart attack after responding to three emergency calls.
\nEchevarria was a 30-year veteran of both EMS and fire services.
\nBuried at Lafayette Memorial Park, Fayetteville, NC<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Leroy Burke, 51<\/strong>
\nPilot
\nBuried at Eastern Carolina Veterans Cemetery in Goldsboro.<\/p>\n

Crystal Faith Harris Sollinger, 47<\/strong>
\nNurse
\nBuried at Raleigh Memorial Park.<\/p>\n

Kristopher “Kris” Ray Harrison, 44<\/strong>
\nNurse<\/p>\n

Duke Life Flight, Durham
\n9\/8\/2017
\nSee narrative at https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/air-ambulance-crashes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dennis Lamont Hardy, 47<\/strong>
\nEMT
\nBertie County Emergency Services, Windsor
\n7\/22\/2020
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty.<\/p>\n

Donald “DP” R. Paul, 60<\/strong>
\nA-EMT
\nFirstHealth of the Carolinas Critical Care Transport, Pinehurst
\n12\/3\/2020
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty.
\nBuried at Nebo Wesleyan Church Cemetery, Hamlet, NC.<\/p>\n

Milton Earl Reel, 63<\/strong>
\nLieutenant\/EMT
\nFarmville Rescue & EMS, Inc., Farmville
\n12\/22\/2020
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty.
\nBuried at Crestlawn Cemetery, Farmville, NC<\/p>\n

Vanessa Lynn Burris, 30<\/strong>
\nEMT
\nCumberland County EMS, Fayetteville
\n8\/10\/2021
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty. <\/p>\n

John Thomas “Thomas” Ring, 35<\/strong>
\nParamedic
\nWilkes County EMS, North Wilkesboro
\n9\/6\/2021
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty. He was also captain at Glendale Springs VFD.
\nBuried at Claude Mash Cemetery in Wilkes County, NC.<\/p>\n

Donna Maria Barrett Cagle, 49<\/strong>
\nEMT
\nBladen County EMS, Bladenboro
\n9\/22\/2021
\nCOVID, contracted on duty.
\nDied of complications from COVID contracted in the line of duty. Cagle had worked for BCEMS for 15 years.
\nBuried at Ward Family Cemetery in Tar Heel, NC.<\/p>\n