Everyone in this area have had heavy hearts this weekend as one of our locals,Christa Burchett,will be laid to rest today. So heavy has this been on my mind. I think about what happened...what went thru her mind as this all took place...what about the precious child that she loved so very much...what will she do without her Momma,her best friend. I also think of our nephew,Jeremy. This has been so hard to decipher...He was supposed to work that day,but he & Amy did not have a babysitter for Austin,their infant son,who is also a step brother to Jer's other son,"Big C" as I shall call him. Christa worked that day instead of Jer. He was in shock when the news reached him..."WHY WASN'T IT ME? THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!!!" Angered,saddened,struck with every emotion swirling inside.....What is one to think about this? IT COULD have been Jer. It WAS Christa. It does make one wonder "what if"...I would never in any way wish anything at all like this from one person to another..NEVER,because I have had tragedy fall into my lap & I would NEVER ever wish it upon even my worse enemy...NEVER. Its not something that anyone will ever get over,I just hope & pray that everyone will stick together & get thru this. We all hear of things like this happening on the news,but never do you think about it happening to someone you know & respect. My heart goes out to all coworkers,friends,family,& the precious daughter left without her Mother. God Bless all of these people & see them thru this difficult time.
I am sooo thankful that Jer is ok....but I don't know how to process the whole situation. The very thought of this even being likely to happen to a member of your family is too much to swallow. The very first thing I did when I was at the gym & was informed a paramedic was involved in a horrible accident,I picked up the phone to call my neice & one of my dearest friends,Missy...I asked her to call & see if Jer was working....then she called back & told me he was at home with Austin..I said a "Thank You,God" to myself,yet still had a sickening feeling in my gut. WHY?? I had no idea. 3 lives lost....an innocent child, a beautiful mother-to-be,a Heronie.....what is the world coming to?
I guess I just needed to get these things on the outside...even if this blog doesn't make much sense to anyone else,but this is already a wretched time of the year for me & my family...what is left of us...& I don't know if I could have made it this far without a host of wonderful people to help carry the load with me. I hope that everyone sticks together & this helps each & every one of us remember that life is short...sooo many little things we all are guilty of taking advantage of....take time to stop & smell the roses...don't tell your loved one to "hang on a minute...or maybe some other time..". Take those few extra seconds to say "You are special to me...I love You...Thank You for being a part of my life"
I am going to post a few articles & such that I have found for anyone who would like to read them. Even if you didn't know Christa & you are on my list of friends,I hope you take the time to read about this amazing Heroine.
Thanks for reading everyone!!!!
Kim
Thanks To Others, Co-Workers Attend Visitation For Eastern Kentucky Woman
Those who knew Christa Burchett say she touched the lives of everyone around her, and Saturday night hundreds paid their respects, including her co-workers.
EMS workers and firefighters from two different counties volunteered to cover shifts at the Paintsville Fire Department so its employees could attend her visitation.
It was a somber day as emergency crews remembered one of their own. But thanks to dozens of volunteers, the day was made just a little bit easier for some of those close to Christa Burchett.
"It kinda gives them the piece of mind that they don't have to worry about this, they can concentrate on the family down there,? says Kenny Lyons, Johnson Co. Rescue Chief.
Boyd County EMS workers and local Johnson county firefighters filled in for those at the Paintsville Fire Department, but most workers say they didn't think twice about offering their time.
"Any time anything like this happens, in the fire or EMS community, it's the only thing to do is be here for one another,? says Duane Rucker, Boyd County EMT.
"Anything we can do to help, we're glad to do it and anybody else in the community would do the same,? says Shannon Smith, Thelma Fire Chief.
For those who put their life on the line every day, Burchett's death hits close to home.
"You don't expect it to hit your own people. You see it day in and day out, but it's just a whole different situation when it's your own,? says Greg Denton, Boyd Co. Paramedic.
Many emergency responders say they are able to make it through these hard times thanks the close knit community.
"When something tragic happens to you, we all pull together, everybody lets bygones be bygones. We're all buddies, we're all brothers. It's just one big family here in the county,? says Bill Robinson, West Van Lear Fire Chief.
Those who worked with Burchett, remember her lively spirit and passion for the job.
"Always had a smile on her face. She never knew a stranger. No matter what time it was, or when it was, she always had a smile on her face. She will deeply be missed,? says Robinson.
Christa Burchett's last call was January 22nd.
Paintsville EMS director killed on wintry scene
By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection
PAINTSVILLE - Icy roads were blamed for a crash that killed the Paintsville EMS director, and the patient she was caring for, this morning.
City of Paintsville Fire-Rescue-EMS Assistant Chief and EMS Director Christa Dawn Burchett, 33, was injured around 9 a.m. on U.S. 460 in Johnson County near the Magoffin County line. She had responded to a minor crash with possible injuries involving a pregnant woman.
While on the scene, a coal truck lost control on an incline and struck both Burchett and her patient, Erica Brown, after first striking a police cruiser.
Brown was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say she had not appeared to have suffered any major injuries in the first crash.
Burchett was transported to Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m.
Another paramedic, Brian Moore, was treated and released from Hall Regional.
Johnson County Judge-Executive Tucker Daniel reported that the roads were slippery with light snow and slushy ice. He said Burchett was helping the patient into an ambulance at the time of the crash.
Paintsville Mayor Bob Porter said "Christa Burchett is a valuable member of our city team. We're devastated by what's happened."
Burchett is survived by a 14-year-old daughter.
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
PAINTSVILLE - The funeral for Christa Burchett, Paintsville Fire-Rescue-EMS assistant chief and EMS director, will be held Sunday, Jan. 27, at Lawrence County Middle School, 9 Bulldog Lane, Louisa, in the gymnasium at 1:00 p.m. There will be a public safety briefing at noon before the funeral.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the school gymnasium.
Wilson Funeral Home in Louisa is in charge of the arrangements.
This will be a full firefighter funeral. If you plan to attend with apparatus, you must be on site by 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Questions concerning apparatus can be directed to Ron Pope at 606-624-5021.
Questions concerning the visitation and funeral can be directed to Ronnie Day at 859-608-4652.
Burchett and her patient were killed yesterday when a truck lost control and crashed into them on an icy road at the scene of a previous wreck.
She is survived by her 14-year-old daughter, Olivia.
Kentucky Paramedic, Patient Killed at Crash Scene
Funeral information below
Photo courtesy of The Paintsville Herald
Police and state highway workers survey the scene of a fatal Johnson County accident early Tuesday. Christa Burchett, assistant Paintsville fire chief and EMS director, and Erica Brown, of River, were killed when a coal truck lost control on Ky. Route 460.
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WKYT News Video
Jan. 23--PAINTSVILLE -- The freezing rain that coated parts of Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday morning is being blamed for a bizarre series of accidents that killed a young pregnant woman and the paramedic who was trying to help her.
Just after 9 a.m., Paintsville Emergency Medical Services received a call of a pregnant woman needing an ambulance on U.S. 460 in Johnson County, near the Magoffin County line, said Jim Williams, a spokesman for Paintsville EMS.
The mother-to-be, Erica Brown of Salyersville, had lost control of her car on the icy road and crashed into a rocky cliff 5 miles west of Paintsville. She was not injured, but she wanted a paramedic to make sure her unborn baby had not been harmed in the jarring crash, Williams said.
Brown, 24, was 11 weeks pregnant.
The director of Paintsville EMS, Christa Burchett, 33, responded to the call in an ambulance. A Johnson County sheriff's deputy also drove to the scene.
As Burchett stood in the freezing drizzle helping Brown on the shoulder of U.S. 460, a passing 18-wheel tractor-trailer loaded with coal began sliding on the icy road, said Trooper Scott Hopkins, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police post in Pikeville.
The truck slid into a car traveling in front of it, sideswiped the deputy's cruiser parked on the shoulder of the road, and then slammed into Burchett and Brown, who stood near the back of the ambulance, Hopkins said.
A second coal truck overturned while trying to avoid the accident.
Brown was killed on impact. Burchett died at Paul B. Hall Regional Medical Center in Paintsville at 10:04 a.m.
Kentucky State Police were on the scene much of Tuesday reconstructing the crash.
Preliminary investigation shows that the accident was caused by icy road conditions. State police say speed does not appear to be a factor and the coal truck, owned by M&R Trucking of Salyersville and driven by Leslie Spence, was carrying the amount of coal permitted and was not overweight.
No charges are expected.
Hopkins could not find the words to describe the horrific crash. He said the accident involving the mother-to-be and the emergency medical responder had hit home for many.
Tuesday afternoon, dozens of EMS personnel and community members gathered at the Fire-Rescue-EMS Center in Paintsville.
Many hugged. Many more cried.
Together they quietly shared fond memories of Burchett, who they said was nicknamed "hero" because of the many times she risked her life to save others.
Burchett, of Lowmansville in Johnson County, had been a paramedic since 2003. She began working with Paintsville Fire-EMS in August 2005 and was named director of EMS last April.
Yesterday, those who knew Burchett best said her life revolved around her job and her 14-year-old daughter Olivia, who attends Paintsville High School. Burchett was divorced.
"Christa was a dream employee," said Paintsville Mayor Bob Porter. "She worked all the time and she never complained. The only thing that upset her is someone who didn't work as hard as she did."
Burchett's true passions were the outdoors, cars and motorcycles, and helping those in need.
"She loved what she did. That's all she ever thought about was helping someone else," said Tonya Dingess, who said Burchett was her best friend. "She died doing what she wanted to do. I don't think Christa would have wanted it any other way."
Burchett's daughter Olivia was also present at the EMS center in Paintsville.
The 14-year-old, surrounded by classmates, was too heartbroken to speak to reporters. Through friends, she said she wanted everyone to know that she loved her mother, her hero.
Funeral arrangements for Brown were not available Tuesday. Funeral arrangements for Burchett were pending at Wilson Funeral Home in Louisa in Lawrence County.
