Community raising funds for EMTs injured in Pioneer Day rollover

Community raising funds for EMTs injured in Pioneer Day rollover

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JUAB COUNTY — An ambulance paramedic injured in a rollover accident while transporting a patient was still in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

The accident occurred Friday on northbound I-15 near 12000 South in Draper around 2:30 a.m., according to Utah Highway Patrol. Juab County EMTs, Elton Castleman and Jodi Jones, were transporting a psychiatric patient in an ambulance when he caused the vehicle to roll, UHP Lt. Jeff Nigbur said.

"He was in the back and he asked for the lights to be turned out as he was being transported," Nigbur said. "Somehow he got out of his restraints and pushed the other ambulance employee aside, and he actually kind of crawled through that little back window that you can open up in the ambulance… and he got halfway through there. He initially grabbed the keys first… and then he grabbed the steering wheel, which caused the ambulance to roll."

Castleman, Jones and the patient were transported to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Jones was released that evening, but Castleman was still in ICU in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Juab County EMS director Mika Sperry.

"It's been very emotional just because we are a family and we look out for each other," Sperry said. "It's pretty hard."

The Juab County EMS crew set up a GoFundMe campaign* to help raise funds for both volunteer EMTs.

"Our county EMTs, like other counties, is a volunteer department," a statement on the GoFundMe page read. "It would be an honor to give back to our own heroes who put their life at risk to save others."

Nigbur said an aggravated assault charge has been filed in connection with the accident, but has not yet been screened by the county prosecutor. However, the pending charges may be dropped due to the "diminished mental capacity" of the man, Nigbur said.

*KSL.com does not assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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Faith Heaton Jolley

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