Roberto Acosta
MLive.com, Walker, Mich.
SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. — A scholarship fund is being established in honor of an EMT killed in a vehicle crash this month.
The James Bloss EMS Scholarship Fund will help Genesee County high school students and young adults in the community who wish to earn their EMT license.
Bloss, 21, of Clio, died Friday, Jan. 3 following a crash in Thetford Township.
Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser said Bloss was headed south on Genesee Road, roughly two miles north of M-57 when the 2014 Ford Fusion he was driving crossed over the center line and hit a northbound vehicle head-on.
He was not wearing a seat belt at the time and alcohol use is suspected, with pending blood test results, Kaiser said. Police didn’t release information about the crash until Tuesday, Jan. 14.
“Jimmy brought his positive energy, commitment and compassion to every patient he cared for and every partner he worked with,” said a final radio call played Monday, Jan. 6, for Bloss’ funeral.
The radio call came as dozens of people gathered inside the funeral home. Vehicles from the following list of responders sat outside: Medstar, Lapeer County EMS, Swartz Ambulance, Genesee County Elite EMS, Huron Valley Ambulance, STAT EMS, Patriot Ambulance Service, MMR, Gaines Township Fire Department, Clio Fire Department, Swartz Creek Fire Department, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
A long line of ambulance and fire vehicles streamed down Miller Road from Sharp Funeral Home in Swartz Creek on the day of the funeral.
Bloss served as an emergency medical technician with Medstar Ambulance Service for more than a year after graduating with his certification through STAT EMS and spending some time with the Clio Fire Department.
Kolby Miller, CEO of Medstar, said of Bloss: “When you say everybody likes somebody, everybody truly liked him.”
Miller said the EMS community is like a family and it’s hard to lose one of your own.
“You feel like you’re walking through wet cement,” he added.
While personnel deal with emergencies on a daily basis, Miller said: “It is very difficult to process when it happens to our family.”
Bloss was appreciative of his job and loved what he did, Miller said.
“He was a happy guy. He would have a high five, big handshake for everybody,” said Miller, often helping others with their vehicles if needed.
Bloss is survived by his mother and stepfather, Lisa and Jim Phalen; father and step-mother, Jody and Deborah Bloss; siblings, Vanessa, Justin, Meghan, Austin and Anthony; grandparents, R.B. Skelton, Sharry McDill, Dean and Helen Bloss, and Karen Miller; many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Contributions to the James Bloss EMS Scholarship Fund may be mailed to: James Bloss EMS Scholarship Fund c/o Medstar, 380 N. Gratiot Ave, Clinton Township, MI 48036.
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