Honorees

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Year Honored
1998
Honoree
Frank D Gilbert
Agency
City of Portage Fire Department
Agency City
Portage
Agency State
IN
Last Call
5/29/97
Cause of Death
Ambulance Involved MVC
Biography
The Portage Fire Department Ambulance was rushing to the local hospital on October 26, 1996 with its lights and siren on when it began to pass a dump truck on the left side. The truck made a left turn forcing the ambulance off the road.<br /> <br /> Frank Gilbert was attending a patient in the back of the rig when the ambulance swerved and hit a tree. He was thrown into the back of the ambulance and landed on his head and neck and was paralyzed from the neck down.<br /> <br /> Frank died May 29, 1997 from complications of the accident. Neither driver nor the patient was injured.<br /> <br /> Frank was well known for his work with the fire department and the SWAT team. He won the Indiana Paramedic of the Year Award in 1995."He was very dedicated to the EMS and fire service," Mike Buoy, secretary with the Fire Fighters Local 3151 said."From a personal standpoint, he's one of the nicest guys you'd meet. He'd do anything for anybody."<br /> <br /> He was an EMT, CPR and ACLS instructor, member of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team and a Medic in the Marine Reserve Unit.<br /> <br /> Frank is survived by his wife, Kim, and three children.<br /> <br /> Honored 1998