By EMS1 Staff
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Police identified the EMT who died Monday while riding in an ambulance that crashed into a stalled semi.
Minnesota State Troopers identified the EMT as 24-year-old Marina DeSteno Challeen.
HealthEast, the owner of the ambulance, released a statement about the incident.
“Last evening, there was a tragic motor vehicle collision that involved one of our HealthEast ambulances. We lost a valued member of our HealthEast Medical Transportation Team. As we work with law enforcement to understand what happened, we ask for thoughts and prayers for our colleague, grieving family and friends and our team. The families involved are asking for privacy during this time.”
DeSteno Challeen’s family said she was an aspiring med student who wanted to work for Doctors Without Borders, according to KSTP.
“She was kind of a tough kid. She was independent and did things her own way,” DeSteno Challeen’s aunt, Nancy DeSteno, said. “She worked hard at reaching out to people. If she realized someone was upset. She would come up to you and put her arm around you and be close. You know? She was very good at that.”
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