By Laura French
Update June 30, 2020: Intermountain Healthcare Life Flight Paramedic Jason Sorenson has died from his injuries following a plane crash Thursday.
Sorenson died on Monday just after 9 p.m., according to an announcement by the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, where Sorenson had recently retired from as a deputy sheriff and paramedic, and worked full-time as a flight medic for Intermountain Healthcare.
“Davis County Sheriff’s Office is hurting today. Jason was universally loved. He had a huge impact on the lives of many people in Davis County and around the state,” said Sheriff Kelly V. Sparks in a statement. “Jason was an important part of our Sheriff’s Office family and we truly mourn his loss.”
“We are so saddened by Jason’s passing. Jason was a terrific and dedicated paramedic, pilot, and public servant, and an even better husband, father, friend, colleague and person. We will miss him terribly,” said Intermountain Life Flight Executive Director Pamela Moore in a statement. “Jason was a member of our Intermountain Life Flight team and family for 15 years. During that time, Jason demonstrated his professionalism, commitment, and caring for people who we served and cared for on a daily basis.”
Sorenson’s organs will be donated to those in need, according to the sheriff’s office. Funeral arrangements are pending.
The crash also killed Pilot Andre Kostrzewa, 72, who owned the plane. Kostrzewa died Thursday at the scene of the crash.
Original story:
DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — A flight paramedic who was severely injured in a fatal plane crash on Thursday has had both legs amputated below the knee, officials reported this weekend.
The Davis County Sheriff’s Office reported that Intermountain Healthcare Life Flight Paramedic Jason Sorenson, 47, who had recently retired as a lieutenant at the sheriff’s office, “has many surgeries ahead, and although he is not close to being out of the woods yet — each minute/hour is full of ups and downs, he is in good hands.”
The plane crash in Centerville, north of Salt Lake City, killed PIlot Andre Kostrzewa, 72, who owned the single-engine aircraft. The plane had been built in 2018 using a homemade kit, officials said. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
A crew from Intermountain Healthcare Life Flight responded to the crash not knowing that Sorenson was one of the victims; counselors have been made available to support Sorenson’s colleagues.
Two bystanders were commended by the sheriff’s office for stepping in to pull Sorenson and Kostrzewa from the fiery wreckage.
“Without these heroic actions from complete strangers, Jason would have, most likely, had no chance at survival,” the sheriff’s office stated. “The lone fact that they selflessly risked their lives to attempt to save the lives of strangers is incredibly commendable.”
The two bystanders were treated for smoke inhalation, and firefighters extinguished a 10-acre brush fire sparked by the crash.
A charitable account has been set up in Sorensen’s name to accept donations, and the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police is also holding a fundraiser to support Sorensen and his family.