By Kellen Stepler
The Tribune-Review
HARRISON, Pa. 鈥� A Citizens Hose EMT is lucky to be alive after being struck by a vehicle and thrown nearly 30 yards while responding to a Harrison road made treacherous by ice and snow Saturday.
Kelly Jackson of Tarentum was clipped by a vehicle as it slid down Burtner Road before striking a guardrail.
She suffered numerous injuries, including a brain bleed, two broken bones in her lower back, several broken ribs, a laceration of her liver, broken teeth, stitches on her forehead and scalp, a problem with her aorta, and several lacerations and contusions on her body, according to Lori Miller, president of the Hilltop Hose Ladies Auxiliary.
鈥淚t is truly a miracle that she survived,鈥� Miller said in a she started Monday for Jackson.
Citizens Hose crews were called Saturday to Burtner Road for reports of vehicles getting stuck on the hill leading from the Route 28 exit into the township鈥檚 Natrona Heights neighborhood. An ambulance blocking the road was hit by a driver who lost control while coming down the slick road.
Jackson tried to get out of the way but was struck, authorities said. She was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where authorities said she is in stable condition.
The crash was determined to be weather-related, and charges are not expected to be filed at this time, said Allegheny County Police spokesman Jim Madalinsky.
鈥淲hen you have major trauma, being in stable condition doesn鈥檛 mean you don鈥檛 have ill effects,鈥� said Jim Erb, Citizens Hose supervisor. 鈥淏eing stable means it鈥檚 not necessarily life-threatening.
鈥淓veryone at Citizens鈥� thoughts and prayers are with her as she鈥檚 determined to heal from this traumatic accident.鈥�
Erb was not at the scene Saturday, but he was alerted immediately about the incident and called to check on his crew.
鈥淚 obviously can鈥檛 imagine the fear that they had at that moment,鈥� he said.
Jackson is a graduate of the emergency medical technician training hosted by the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation and was among its most recent class.
She has been an EMT with Citizens for about six months.
She graduated from high school in Gulfport, Miss., and first became a paralegal before training as an EMT.
鈥淚t is an extremely difficult job they deal with day in and day out,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淓very single call they go on, it鈥檚 different and poses challenges and problems.鈥�
Burtner Road gets slippery and dangerous during winter weather conditions. The state would typically need to close it, and Harrison police officers at times have closed the road.
鈥淲e notify PennDOT when it comes to our attention that it鈥檚 icy or covered in snow,鈥� Chief Brian Turack said.
鈥淲e have closed the road several times. Officers use their judgment.鈥�
Miller said Jackson loves being an EMT. Since it opened Monday morning, her GoFundMe has raised more than $1,600 of a $10,000 goal.
The GoFundMe aims to help Jackson get her bills paid and ensure that anything she and her family needs is taken care of so she can concentrate on healing, Miller said.
鈥淲hen stuff like this happens to our first responders, everybody wants to help. That鈥檚 why we started (the GoFundMe ), and we figure this will help the family,鈥� she said.
Although Miller is part of a different company than Jackson, everyone comes together to support each other in times of crisis, Miller said.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in this special group of people, you feel like you鈥檙e brothers and sisters. When another company has something bad happen to them, everyone else rallies around and helps,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to help the helpers. They鈥檙e the ones keeping our townships, our communities, running.鈥�
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