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.