Alberta paramedic in mourning after treating critically injured teen not realizing it was her daughter
An Alberta paramedic who responded to a horrific crash where she treated a severely injured teenager, not realizing it was her own daughter, is mourning the loss of her child.
Jayme Erickson discussed the loss of her daughter Montana, who was critically injured in a Nov. 15 crash outside Airdrie, Alta.
Family friend Richie Reed, a flight paramedic himself, says Montana and a friend were returning from a dog walk at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. RCMP confirm Montana was a passenger when the driver lost control of the vehicle on an icy stretch of road and they were struck by an oncoming truck.
Erickson arrived on scene and attended to the teenager who was then airlifted to the Foothills Medical Centre. Following her shift, RCMP visited Erickson's home to inform her that it was in fact Montana who was the victim of the crash. The teenager died in hospital.
"She meant the world to all of us," said Erickson. "This tragedy is not only felt here, in this community, but it's felt across the province and maybe the country.
"I think every first responder can relate to the pain that we're feeling. Nobody wants to go through anything like this and I just want my baby girl's memory to live on and I want everyone to know how much she meant to us and how much she means to all of my coworkers."
Undated image of Montana, the teenager who died following a crash near Airdrie, Alta. on Nov. 15. Her mother, Jayme Erickson, was the paramedic who attended the crash scene. (supplied: Erickson family)
Erickson says Montana was a firecracker who loved her friends fiercely and fought for what she believed in until her final day.
"She was so beautiful. Whenever she put effort into anything, she would always succeed at it. A very successful swimmer throughout her years. Aspirations of being a lawyer, post-high school. She was a very funny girl and we all loved her very much."
Erickson says Montana was able to give a final gift of her organs for donation, two of which were life-saving.
"We're so happy to know that our baby girl is living on through others, and she has, in the wake of this tragedy, she has saved other people. We know it's what she would have wanted and we are so proud of her."
Friends have created a GoFundMe account to help Erickson and her husband Sean cover funeral costs for Montana and to allow the family time to try to put back together their lives that have been "absolutely shattered."
"This is a loss of a daughter, but also (Jayme's) loss of an identity as a mother, and likely as a paramedic as well," said Reed. "And now she will always have us (first responders) as a family without question. So we'll always be there for her but we would appreciate some help trying to help her so that she can focus on this."
As of early Tuesday afternoon, more than $47,000 had been raised for the Erickson family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.