A few nights ago, as I was snuggled on the couch watching television, five heroic people left this earth. They were lost in a tragic plane crash on the desert plains I love so much. One aboard was very ill and being transported with his wife by pilot and crew to a town only 30 miles to the west. Something went horribly wrong. Our world lost angels when heaven called them back that dark and stormy night. Please read on about these heroes. Each family has a Go Fund Me page you can visit.
Five people were killed in Stagecoach Friday night after a Care Flight plane went down on its way to Salt Lake City. The passengers included the pilot, a flight nurse, a flight paramedic, a patient and the patient’s wife.
The flight nurse has been named as 32-year-old Ed Pricola, who, before moving to Care Flight last fall, worked as a charge nurse in the Carson Tahoe Emergency Department. Pricola is survived by Lauren, his wife of 12 years, his four-year-old daughter Riley, his two-year-old son Everett, and his golden retriever, Rip.
The Care Flight paramedic has been identified as Ryan Watson. Ryan loved being a flight medic, and brought a “positive attitude to every call and patient interaction he had,” according to Savanah Green, who organized his GoFundMe. Ryan is survived by his Wife, Kailey, and their newborn Carter, who was born on Jan. 19, 2023.
The Care Flight pilot has been identified as Scott Walton. Walton was an exceptional pilot who spent years as a flight instructor, and transporting patients through Care Flight was an “absolute passion and life’s mission,” according to his sister-in-law Katie Maguire Walton, who organized his GoFundMe. Walton is survived by his wife and three young daughter
Passenger Mark (Bear) and Terri Rand were on the Care Flight trip so that Bear could undergo life-saving treatment in Salt Lake City when the plane went down. Bear and Terri were big hearted, family oriented, proud parents and grandparents, according to Misty Gruenemay who is organizing their fundraiser. (Thank you KOLO News)
Please pray for these families in pain. Please pray for our first responders and our beloved Life Flight Company. These pilots, nurses and doctors are true angels on earth, transporting very sick people to the medical care they desperately need.
Such a loss in the snowy, wind swept high plains of Northwestern Nevada.
Whatever you do today, reach out to someone that is grieving, even if it’s just to tell them Hello. People grieve for all sorts of losses. Time sprinkled with the love of others helps heal the wounded. The wounds from this tragedy will take a lifetime to heal. RIP, Our Nevada Heroes.
More tomorrow.