Times-News
Hendersonville, N.C.
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A relief fund has been established to assist two Henderson County Rescue Squad EMTs who were seriously injured when a driver struck their ambulance June 30 in Hendersonville.
The EMTs, Lindsey Burgess and Savannah Selby, are still being treated at Mission Hospital, the Rescue Squad said in a news release.
The women suffered facial trauma and lower leg and foot injuries, requiring them to undergo extensive surgeries, according to the release, and at least one of them will have an additional surgery next week.
“Both are working with physical and occupational therapy at Mission Hospital and seem to be in good spirits and working hard to get better,” the release states.
The ambulance was struck head on by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, Rescue Squad Public Information Officer Rhonda Chislaghi said after the collision. The driver of the vehicle that struck them died at the scene.
The N.C. Highway Patrol said the crash occurred on South Allen Road near the intersection of Upward Road at about 8:40 p.m., and that Nathaniel Mark Perry, 28, of Hendersonville, died at the scene.
The patient in the ambulance was injured and taken to a local hospital, where they were treated and released.
The relief fund has been set up at First Bank and is called the " Henderson County Rescue Squad Injury Relief Fund.”
Anyone may donate to the fund at any First Bank location, including the branch at 601 N. Main St. in Hendersonville. Additional locations can be found at www.localfirstbank.com.
Burgess has worked part time for the squad since 2019 as an Advanced EMT. She was just hired part time at Henderson County EMS and is scheduled to start college locally, where she will be working toward a bachelor’s degree to become a physician’s assistant.
Selby has worked for the Squad part time since 2020 as an EMT. She has completed her firefighter certification and works part time with Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue. She was scheduled to complete the Asheville Fire Department CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) in hopes of becoming a full-time firefighter with them.
“Hopefully all these things will just be put on hold for a little while until they have recovered fully from their injuries,” the Rescue Squad said in the release. “Please consider donating to Lindsey and Savannah. The road to recovery will be hard earned by each of them and the financial burden will be large.
“Thank you for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.”
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