HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 12

(By Delegates Louisos, Pino and Laird)




Requesting the West Virginia Division of Highways to name the Meadow River Bridge on U.S. Route 19 near the Fayette and Nicholas county line the "Kevin Ritchie Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, On Saturday evening, November 15, 1997, while serving as an EMS paramedic for Jan-Care Ambulance Service, Kevin Ritchie responded to a two vehicle accident on the ice and snow covered Meadow River Bridge on U.S. Route 19 near the Fayette and Nicholas County line; and
Whereas, Kevin Ritchie was assisting at the scene of the accident when three additional vehicles lost control, and Kevin Ritchie fell three hundred feet from the Meadow River Bridge to his death while trying to avoid the oncoming vehicles; and
Whereas, Kevin Ritchie was 34 years old and was an eight-year veteran paramedic with Jan-Care Ambulance Service who served the citizens of southern West Virginia in their time of pain and suffering, and who helped to expand their knowledge and awareness through his teaching of Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and numerous trauma and rescue courses; and
Whereas, In tribute to Kevin Ritchie's life of service, the primary educational training facility at Jan-Care was renamed in his honor, his badge number and ambulance number were retired, and he received an EMS - Firefighter funeral and burial with full honors in which the funeral procession stretched an estimated eleven11 miles; and
Whereas, Kevin Ritchie made the ultimate sacrifice in service of his fellow man, and it is thus appropriate that the bridge from which he fell be named in his honor to further commemorate and memorialize his life of service; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the West Virginia Division of Highways is hereby requested to name the Meadow River Bridge on U.S. Route 19 near the Fayette and Nicholas county line the "Kevin Ritchie Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Highways, the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the Governor of West Virginia and the parents of Kevin Ritchie.