By Daniel Victor
Patriot News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2007 The Patriot News Co.
All Rights Reserved
WEST HANOVER TWP., Penn. — Duncannon emergency medical service volunteer Alex Morris once had to deal with the heartache of responding to a car crash that killed one of his closest friends.
Morris, 20, was killed early Sunday when police said his car hit a truck from behind on Interstate 81 in West Hanover Twp., leaving friends and co-workers trying to cope with the loss.
“He would understand how we’re feeling,” said Christie Young, president of Duncannon EMS, where she said Morris once volunteered 30 to 40 hours per week.
Morris was driving south at mile marker 76 at 2 a.m. when his car hit the back of a truck, state police at Harrisburg said.
Morris was pronounced dead at the scene; he was not wearing a seat belt, police said.
The truck driver, Iva Da Silva of Ellicott City, Md., was taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with minor injuries, police said.
Morris, who had recently started business classes at Lebanon Valley College, began volunteering as a social member with the Duncannon EMS as a teenager, according to a statement from the organization. His participation grew, and he obtained his emergency medical technician certification in October 2004 at age 17.
“Alex was fun-loving, comical and a joy to have around,” the statement read. “His camaraderie and friendship will be missed by many.”
Morris and two other EMTs once saved a 16-year-old girl’s prom date, according to a 2006 story in The Patriot-News.
Rachel Cline, then a junior at Lower Dauphin Area High School, crashed her car into a ditch and was being taken to a hospital on the day she was to go to her boyfriend’s prom in Sharon.
After buying her a corsage, Morris and the two EMTs drove her to Sharon, arriving in time for Cline to have two dances with her boyfriend. They got back to Perry County at 2: 30 a.m.
Morris enjoyed watching football and playing poker, according to two of his roommates at LVC. He worked at Penn National Race Course, and was interested in starting a business, said roommate Trey Little.
“He got along with pretty much everyone he came into contact with up here,” he said.