KNUE + Patterson UTI ‘Hometown Hero’ of the Week: Carrie Elder of ETMC

All of us at 101.5 KNUE are proud to be part of East Texas, and we are especially proud to live in a place where we hold our military and first responders in such high regard.

KNUE + Patterson UTI are proud to announce this week’s “Hometown Hero," paramedic Carrie Elder with East Texas Medical Center.

Elder, of Deberry, was nominated by her daughter-in-law, Megan Myrick. Here's what Megan had to say about her mother-in-law:

My mother-in-law served in the Army for two years. After her son, my husband, was born she became a paramedic for Carthage at ETMC. On Nov. 29, 2014, Carrie responded to a wreck in Deberry on Highway 79 where a diesel truck carrying a large piece of oilfield equipment had hit a white truck on the passenger side. That truck happened to be my father and 12-year-old little sister. The truck hit my sister's side of the vehicle. After my father and paramedics finally got my sister unpinned from the vehicle, my mother-in-law made the call to have a helicopter fly her off scene to LSU Hospital. If not for her decision, my sister might not still be here. She is my hero and my family's as well. We will always be thankful to her and her team for saving my father and baby sister's lives.

To show our appreciation for Carrie's dedication and service to her country and community, she will receive a plaque courtesy of Tyler Trophy. They specialize in awards, engraving, trophies, plaques, gifts and more.

Thank you for your service, Carrie, and we are proud to call you a fellow East Texan.