Three months in the past, life modified instantly for Central EMS paramedics Kaytlyn Brown and Jamie Nonetheless when their ambulance was hit head-on by a truck, leading to severe accidents. That October evening led to a protracted uphill battle of restoration.
However within the weeks because the accident, Brown and Nonetheless have demonstrated resilience and braveness that their first responder neighborhood took time to honor this week.
“On this line of labor, we deal with our personal,” stated Bryan Gibson, chief govt officer of Precedence OnDemand. “And it is actually superior to see how this group all got here collectively and has been supporting you.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Brown and Nonetheless acquired recognition on the Heroes and Hope Banquet.
Members of Central EMS, its guardian firm Precedence OnDemand, the Newton County Fireplace Division, the Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace, Newton County Dispatch, Air Strategies and Grady Memorial Hospital gathered at Legion Area to honor the pair, in addition to receiving recognition themselves for the coordination and life-saving actions.
On the night of Oct. 26, 2025, Brown and Nonetheless had been driving an ambulance once they had been struck head-on by a truck. Info from the Georgia State Patrol indicated that the truck had failed to take care of its lane, crashing into the ambulance at Mount Zion Street close to Bald Rock Street in Newton County.
All three folks on scene—Brown and Nonetheless, plus the truck driver—sustained extreme accidents and needed to be extracted from their automobiles by first responders. Brown and Nonetheless had been life-flighted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
Since that evening, the paramedics have confronted a protracted uphill battle of restoration. Their enchancment was described as miraculous.
“What we’ve all witnessed here’s a miracle, to avoid wasting the lives of those two medics,” stated Gary Coker, founding father of Central EMS.
Through the banquet, Brown and Nonetheless had been honored with Hero Awards, recognizing their energy and willpower.
“This award is reserved for moments that redefine braveness,” stated Corey Thomas, vp of operations at Central EMS. “It’s for people whose energy below unimaginable circumstances reminds us of the phrase ‘hero’ and why ‘hero’ nonetheless issues.
“Kaytlyn and Jamie, the accidents you sustained had been extreme, however what stands out much more than the bodily trauma is the energy of spirit you’ve demonstrated by way of the darkest days of restoration.”
Brown and Nonetheless supplied their very own gratitude for the assist they’ve acquired because the incident and the way their first responder neighborhood has rallied in assist.
“It positively was tough at first, however our firm has given us a lot assist in each approach potential,” Brown stated. “Simply in a approach I did not see taking place.”
Nonetheless echoed Brown’s remarks, saying Central EMS helped him each step of the way in which.
“I positively didn’t count on the quantity of assist,” Nonetheless stated. “I imply, each single division in Newton County reached out, whether or not it was financially or simply with their assist over textual content or giving me calls or coming in and sitting with me bodily…it was overwhelming.”
Along with Brown and Nonetheless, those that responded to the scene had been honored with recognition for his or her assist. Battalion Chief William Bruce and Paramedic Zach Roberts acquired Incident Command Recognition for remaining calm leaders by way of the incident.
Various Life Savers Awards had been handed out as effectively. Life Savers Awards had been described as recognition to honor the mixed efforts of EMS, hearth, dispatch, regulation enforcement, aviation and hospital that contributed to saving lives.
The Central EMS crew members who acquired the award recognition had been Sharena Johnson, Simone Jackson, Timothy “Levi” Bolt, Zachary Tomic, Tijuan Tucker, Christopher Paul, Grant Jackson and Lianna Homrich. A number of folks with the Newton County Fireplace Division, Air Strategies, Newton County Dispatch, the Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace and Grady Memorial Hospital had been acknowledged as effectively.
However finally, the night was about fellowship and gratitude for the mixed efforts that saved Nonetheless and Brown’s lives.
“It was particularly highly effective to see everyone that helped me in a single room so I can stroll up and hug their neck and say thanks a lot for saving my life,” Nonetheless stated. “From the underside of my coronary heart, I wish to thank everyone that simply helped in any approach that they might, whether or not it was on-scene or after the accident.”
