Honorees

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Year Honored
1997
Honoree
Charles S Edwards
Agency
CareLine Alabama (MedTrans)
Agency City
Birmingham
Agency State
AL
Last Call
12/19/96
Cause of Death
Ambulance Involved MVC
Biography
Paramedic Charles Edwards and his partner, EMT Randy Capps, were returning from an emergency call when their lives were tragically ended. The two emergency workers had been assisting another ambulance crew on a medical call. It was early in the morning on December 19, 1996; the patient was placed in the other ambulance to transport to the hospital. Charles and Randy followed behind in the CareLine ambulance; their work shift was nearly over and after checking in with the hospital and the station, they would be on their way home.<br /> <br /> At 7:30 a.m. their CareLine Alabama ambulance was struck by a Burlington - Northern Santa Fe train at a crossing near Old U.S. 78. The ambulance carrying the patient cleared the tracks without injury; Charles and Randy's ambulance was ripped apart and dragged 50 yards down the track. Charles Edwards, 27, and Randy Capps, 24, never returned home to their families. They died in service saving the lives of others. The railroad crossing that claimed their young lives had been the site of at least four other fatalities.<br /> <br /> Charles Edwards loved his work. He had been with CareLine for over seven years. He was a frequent volunteer with the American Heart Association and Lung Association as a CPR instructor and often presented ambulance demonstrations for the students in the Birmingham schools.<br /> <br /> Charles is sorely missed by his co-workers, friends and family."Both employees were very dedicated to their calls," spoke Neil Hardin, Vice President of Operations at CareLine."They both clearly expressed their compassion for everyone in their work everyday," he said. Charles left behind his wife, Beverly Edwards and their son, Bradley.<br /> <br /> Honored 1997