Nurse struck and killed while helping patient outside nursing home, Michigan cops say
A nurse who ran outside a nursing home to help a patient was struck and killed by an 80-year-old driver, Michigan cops say, according to media reports.
A patient at Majestic Care in Livonia left the facility Sunday, July 23, and laid in the middle of a busy road, The Detroit News reported.
Several nurses, including 42-year-old Latrice Pebbles Jones, went outside to help and put the patient in a wheelchair, according to WWJ.
But as the nurses began to push the patient back to the facility, an 80-year-old driver struck Jones while swerving to avoid the wheelchair, WDIV reported.
Jones died at the hospital, according to WXYZ.
“She was a hero. She lost her life trying to save somebody else’s,” former coworker and friend Shonte Lyles told WXYZ.
The driver, who The Detroit News reported suffered minor injuries, is also accused of striking two vehicles. Alcohol is not believed to have played a factor, police said.
In a statement to multiple outlets, including WDIV, Majestic Care CEO Paul D. Pruitt said he was “heartbroken” by the incident.
“She was an amazing care giver that provided exceptional care to residents and created magic for all those around her,” Pruitt said in the statement. “We recognize with admiration the dedicated care she gave serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse and the calling she answered by always putting the lives of residents as a top priority.”
Jones was a mother, loved ones said on Facebook. She was remembered as being a “big-hearted woman” who was “sweet, cool and funny.”
“Sad story, to be a nurse and lose your life while on duty, trying to save the life of someone else!” Alantae Martin said in a Facebook post.
“With Pebbles, her heart is so big and that’s how she passed away,” family friend Tameka Long told Fox 2. “Caring for somebody else.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2023 at 5:52 AM with the headline "Nurse struck and killed while helping patient outside nursing home, Michigan cops say."