Texas EMS Line of Duty Deaths

The Texas Department of State Health Services honors emergency medical services personnel who lost their lives while on EMS duty with the Texas EMS Hall of Honor memorial. The plaques permanently hang at the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin at the EMS central offices, 1100 West 49th Street. Individuals are inducted into the Texas EMS Hall of Honor at the Texas EMS Conference in November of each year. View the list of Texas EMS Hall of Honor Inductees.

Submission Instructions

To submit a nominee for placement in the Texas EMS Hall of Honor the Line of Duty Death Notification for EMS Personnel form must be completed and submitted on or before August 31st. Any nomination received after August 31st will be considered for the subsequent year's Texas EMS Hall of Honor service. Due to the preparatory time required for the Texas EMS Hall of Honor service, there will be no exceptions made to this policy.

Instructions for Submitting a Line of Duty Death Notification for EMS Personnel Form

Nominee Criteria

The nominee must:

  • Hold current individual Texas EMS certification or licensure.
  • Have no pending disciplinary actions.
  • Have been performing EMS duties at the time of death (i.e., transporting patients, treating patients, and may include attending meetings, public appearances or other related functions which may include medical helicopter or airplane pilot).
  • Have followed established safety regulations, local protocols, and standard operating procedures.
  • Be approved by the DSHS Office of EMS and Trauma Systems Coordination.

Contact Information

For information on the National EMS Memorial Service:

National EMS Memorial Service
2910 North Powers Blvd.  #119
Colorado Springs, CO  80922-2818
Phone: 719-286-0299
Email: info@nemsms.org

For information on EMS Provider Federal Death Benefits:

Public Safety Officers Benefits Act
United States Department of Justice
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
Phone: 202-307-0635; Toll free: 888-744-6513; Fax: 202-514-5956
Website: EMS Provider Federal Death Benefits
E-mail: AskPSOB@usdoj.gov

For information on Texas Line of Duty Death Response Team:

Texas Line of Duty Death Response Team
PO Box 925
Friendswood, TX 77546
Phone: 832-757-1499
Website: Texas Line of Duty Death Response Team
Email: wendy@texasloddtaskforce.com


Texas EMS Hall of Honor Inductees

NameInductee Information
Steven James TaylorEMT-Special Skills
June 23, 1981
Nacogdoches County Hospital District EMS
Ambulance crash
James SimpsonECA
November 29, 1984
Willacy County EMS
Responding to a motor vehicle crash  
Mary BeckEMT-Paramedic
July 29, 1987
Bryan Fire Department
Motor vehicle crash  
Glenn R. JamesEMT-Paramedic
September 1, 1988
El Paso EMS
Struck by drunk driver while at motor vehicle crash
James Ed ThomasEMT-Paramedic
May 31, 1988
Mother Frances Hospital Flight for Life
During resuscitation of patient in contact with downed electrical wire
Jeanne LackeyRN, EMT-Paramedic
February 13, 1989
Mother Frances Hospital Flight for Life
Helicopter crash
Gerald Morgan Sr.EMS Pilot
February 13, 1989
Mother Frances Hospital Flight for Life
Helicopter crash
Kathryn OhnheiserRN, EMT
February 13, 1989
Mother Frances Hospital Flight for Life
Helicopter crash
Mark BeckEMT-Paramedic
July 24, 1991
Lubbock EMS
During patient transport
Larry WrightEMT
April 29, 1992
Redwater-Maud Volunteer EMS
Toxic inhalation during rescue attempt
Barry Allen LawrenceRN
February 10, 1994
Critical Air Medicine, San Antonio
Airplane crash
Brett Alan MartensEMS Pilot
February 10, 1994
Critical Air Medicine, San Antonio
Airplane crash
William Drake SmithRN
March 16, 1994
Critical Air Medicine, San Antonio
Airplane crash
Kimberly Annette NealEMT, EMT-Paramedic student
June 13, 1994
Mother Frances Hospital
Hit and run crash while enroute to paramedic class
Debbie Marie SamsonEMT
May 12, 1995
Hull-Daisetta EMS
Ambulance crash
Danial TharpEMT-Paramedic
September 13, 1997
Rockwall EMS
Motor vehicle crash
Deanene (Dee) SeagoEMT-Paramedic
May 1, 1998
Williams Medic-Aid, Orange County Ambulance
Ambulance crash
Vicente Antonio MartinezPilot
June 5, 1998
Valley AirCare
Helicopter crash
Carlos De La FuenteEMT-Paramedic, RN
June 5, 1998
Valley AirCare
Helicopter crash
Brenda LeinweberEMT-Paramedic, Instructor
June 5, 1998
Valley AirCare
Helicopter crash
Steve TippensEMT
December 9, 1998
Etoile Volunteer Fire Department
Motor vehicle crash
Charles "Mac" AtteberryLicensed Paramedic
July 17, 1999
Hermann Hospital LifeFlight
Helicopter crash
Lynn EthridgeRN, EMT-Paramedic
July 17, 1999
Hermann Hospital LifeFlight
Helicopter crash
John PittmanPilot
July 17, 1999
Hermann Hospital LifeFlight
Helicopter crash
William BethuneEMT
October 15, 1999
Texas City Fire Department
Fire engine crash
James M. DunhamEMT
November 18, 1999
Saint Jo Volunteer Fire-EMS
Cardiac arrest while extricating patient
Chester "Chip" Ray Pierce, Jr.EMT-Paramedic
January 1, 2000
Medic One Ambulance
Ambulance crash
Terry Alan GriffithEMT-Paramedic
March 10, 2000
Northwest Texas Healthcare System LifeStar
Helicopter crash
Ed SannemanPilot
March 10, 2000
Northwest Texas Healthcare System LifeStar
Helicopter crash
Lauren Eileen StoneRN, EMT-Paramedic
March 10, 2000
Northwest Texas Healthcare System LifeStar
Helicopter crash
Curtis James DavidsonEMT-Paramedic
March 24, 2000
NorthStar EMS, Houston
Ambulance crash
Miguel Angel MoralesEMT
March 1, 2001
ACT Ambulance, Edcouch-Elsa
Respiratory failure
September 11, 2001To the fallen emergency response personnel
James E. TaylorEMT-I
January 19, 2003
Bonham Fire Department
Ambulance crash
Raymond B. DavisEMT-Paramedic
September 18, 2003
Lubbock EMS
Cardiac arrest on duty
Paul LujanEMT-Paramedic
March 21, 2004
CareStar EMS
Helicopter crash
Mickey PricePilot
March 21, 2004
CareStar EMS
Helicopter crash
Marco VillalobosLicensed Paramedic
October 24, 2004
El Paso Fire Department
Fixed-wing medical transport crash
Christopher ClinganEMT-Paramedic
February 19, 2005
Liberty-Eylau Volunteer Fire Department
Ambulance/Train crash
Joe Alvarez, Jr.Licensed Paramedic
September 13, 2006
East Texas Medical Center EMS
Ambulance crash
Eric HansonLicensed Paramedic
October 10, 2006
Marble Falls Area EMS
Ambulance crash
Raul Garcia Jr.RN
February 5, 2008
Valley Air Care
Helicopter crash
Robert GossPilot
February 5, 2008
Valley Air Care
Helicopter crash
Michael T. SanchezEMT-Paramedic
February 5, 2008
Valley Air Care
Helicopter crash
Jana BishopLicensed Paramedic/RN
June 8, 2008
PHI, Inc
Helicopter crash
Stephanie WatersEMT-Paramedic
June 8, 2008
PHI, Inc
Helicopter crash
Wayne KirbyPilot
June 8, 2008
PHI, Inc
Helicopter crash
Larry FeaginEMT-Paramedic
August 13, 2009
Gemini Ambulance
Cardiac arrest on duty
Anthony ArchuletaEMT-Paramedic
February 5, 2010
Southwest MedEvac
Helicopter crash
William MontgomeryPilot
February 5, 2010
Southwest MedEvac
Helicopter crash
John SutterEMT-Paramedic
February 5, 2010
Southwest MedEvac
Helicopter crash
Ted CaffarelPilot
July 4, 2010
Air Ambulance STAT
Helicopter crash
Tracy ChambersLicensed Paramedic
July 4, 2010
Air Ambulance STAT
Helicopter crash
Sharon FalknerEMT-Paramedic
July 4, 2010
Air Ambulance STAT
Helicopter crash
Casey Lee SteenlandEMT
August 13, 2010
Champion Ambulance Service
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Michael HatleyEMT
December 25, 2011
East Texas Medical Center EMS
Massive hemorrhagic stroke
Michael SteffenECA
March 12, 2012
Northern Hudspeth County EMS
Car crash while responding to call
Derek BrewsterEMT-P
July 11, 2013
Pampa EMS and Boys Ranch
Car crash while on duty
Mark Mirelez  EMT-P
March 5, 2013
City of Robstown EMS
Sudden illness while on duty
Kevin Clay CaldwellEMT-P
July 11, 2013
Haskell County EMS
Cardiac arrest while on duty
Raymond AllisonLP
February 11, 2014
Sterling County EMS
Ambulance crash during transport
Monica ChavezRN
August 27, 2014
Elite Medical Transport
Airplane crash while transporting patient
Taurean SummersLP
August 27, 2014
Elite Medical Transport
Airplane crash while transporting patient
Juan MartinezPilot
August 27, 2014
Elite Medical Transport
Airplane crash while transporting patient
Michael HowardEMT-P, Instructor
September 13, 2014
Jewett EMS
Cardiac arrest during transport
Erasmus (Johan) van de ColffLP
October 22, 2014
AirEvac Lifeteam
Helicopter Crash
Kristin McLainFlight Nurse
April 27, 2015
Travis County STAR Flight
Fall from helicopter during transport
Daniel HamptonEMT
September 18, 2015\
Jewett EMS
Ambulance crash
Scott P. DeemLP
February 23, 2017
San Antonio Fire Department
Fire response
William C. RingerLP
February 23, 2017 
Liberty County Emergency Medical Services Inc.
Cardiac arrest while on duty
Misty Dawn NicholsonFlight Nurse, EMT
April 28, 2017
Rico Aviation
Air ambulance crash
Scott Allan RiolaFlight Nurse
April 28, 2017
Rico Aviation
Air ambulance crash
Robin Dale Shaw Pilot
April 28, 2017
Rico Aviation
Air ambulance crash
Felipe "Philip" HuertaEMT
December 16, 2018
Hidalgo County EMS
Ambulance crash
Bryant AndersonEMTP
August 18, 2020
City of Converse Fire/EMS
Complications due to COVID-19
Joseph MitchellEMTP
December 11, 2020
City of Converse Fire/EMS
Complications due to COVID-19
William ReedLP 
December 13, 2020
Stratford EMS
Complications due to COVID-19
Roger DeanEMTP
April 21, 2021
Seguin Fire Department
Complications due to COVID-19
Allen AinsworthEMT
April 22, 2020
Colorado County EMS
Medical complications during patient transport
Michael Scudder
 
EMTP
December 5, 2021
Alpine EMS
Medical complications during patient transport
David EadsEMTP
November 17, 2021
UT Health East Texas
Ambulance crash
Sarah Kaderli JunellEMTP
January 8, 2022
City Ambulance Service
Ambulance crash
Shon MatthewsEMT-P
November 2, 2020
LifeNet
Complications due to COVID-19
Zane SchaefferEMT-P
March 24, 2024
Tyler Junior College
Motor vehicle crash
Chief Michael PhillipsEMT
July 5, 2025
Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department
Drowning