Mourners pay tribute to EMT killed in crash

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

 Spotswood EMT Hinal K. Patel, 22, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on July 25. Emergency personnel from across the state paid their respects during her funeral service on July 27. Spotswood EMT Hinal K. Patel, 22, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on July 25. Emergency personnel from across the state paid their respects during her funeral service on July 27. A sea of emergency personnel came from all over to pay their final respects to a young Spotswood EMT who died over the weekend in a motor vehicle crash.

Hinal K. Patel, 22, of Piscataway, was the front seat passenger in a Spotswood ambulance heading to provide mutual aid at the scene of a July 25 crash in East Brunswick.

“We wanted this for her,” said Brian Kenney, a close friend and fire captain of the North Stelton Volunteer Fire Company where Patel was an EMT. “On social media we reached out to everyone we knew. The state police flew its NorthSTAR [Medevac] helicopter overhead, and an Honor Flag from Texas came in support.”

Funeral services were held for Patel on July 27 at Franklin Memorial Park in North Brunswick.

 PHOTOS BY KATHY CHANG/STAFF PHOTOS BY KATHY CHANG/STAFF At the end of the service, a color guard and Middlesex County Police and Fire Pipes and Drums led a procession as members of Spotswood Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the North Stelton Fire Company carried her blue casket followed by many members of her family and friends. Fellow EMS personnel lined the procession standing at attention.

A candlelight vigil in Patel’s honor was held at the North Stelton Fire Company on July 26, which brought out more than 150 people.

The ambulance Patel was in was struck by a motor vehicle, causing the ambulance to overturn at approximately 7:57 a.m. on July 25 at the intersection of Cranbury Road and Ryders Lane, according to Lt. Kevin Zebro of the East Brunswick Police Department. Mark C. Seube, 24, of Hamilton, was operating the Spotswood ambulance. The initial investigation revealed the ambulance, a 2008 Ford van, was traveling west on Ryders Lane toward Cranbury Road, according to police.

The vehicle had its emergency lights and sirens activated. The ambulance proceeded through the intersection and was struck by a 2013 Toyota Prius traveling south on Cranbury Road operated by Kathleen Meade, 58, of East Brunswick, according to police.

The ambulance overturned and slid into a 2011 Subaru Legacy that was stopped on Ryders Lane in the eastbound lanes operated by Kristin Fahrman, 43, of East Brunswick.

Patel died as a result of the collision, according to police.

Two of the drivers, Seube and Meade, were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with non-life-threatening injuries. The third driver, Fahrman, did not sustain any injuries as a result of the accident, according to police.

Several emergency service agencies responded to assist at the scene, including East Brunswick Fire Department District 2, Milltown EMS and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Basic Life Support, as well as the Advance Life Support Units.

Patel was born in Edison and lived in Piscataway all her life. She was a graduate of Piscataway High School and received her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in May in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. In the fall, she was to attend Rutgers- Newark Bio Medical School for her master’s degree program, according to her obituary.

“She wanted to be a doctor,” said Kenney.

“Hinal was dedicated at everything she did. When studying for her MCATs (Medical College Admission Tests), she studied from 8 a.m. in the morning to 1 a.m. She paid her way through school.”

Kenney said Patel had her life scheduled ahead with work and sleep. She had scheduled a month off before going back to school.

“She was one of the best EMT partners that I have ridden with,” he said, adding that Patel helped him get his life on track with school.

According to an obituary, Patel loved socializing, going to the beach and spending time with her family.

Patel was working for Spotswood EMS and was a summer intern for Actavis in Elizabeth. She was a volunteer for the North Stelton Rescue Squad in Piscataway and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

In a statement from the North Stelton Volunteer Fire Company, members called Patel a “very smart, dedicated member of our family” who will be greatly missed.

“She had many close friends at North Stelton,” the statement read. “The members of the North Stelton Volunteer Fire Company are devastated by her loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and coworkers.”

Patel had been a member of North Stelton since April 2012 and completed her EMT training in September of that year.

“She served the citizens of Piscataway as a volunteer EMT in our Emergency Medical Services division,” the statement read. “She served as a volunteer at St. Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick for five years before becoming an EMT at North Stelton.”

On the Facebook page of the Spotswood Emergency Medical Services, a person wrote on behalf of the Spotswood EMS family: “Today we lost a member of our family. Our hearts are heavy. Thank you Hinal for the compassion you showed on the job. You were a true professional. You will be truly missed.”

Surviving are her parents, Ketan A. and Darshana K. Patel; a brother, Neel Patel; her paternal grandmother, Sushila A. Patel; her maternal grandparents, Pushpaben and Chimanbhai Patel; and several aunts and uncles — Smita and Khilan Patel; Heena and Rajesh Patel; Chandresh and Ena Patel; Bakulesh and Varsha Patel; Sonal Patel; Mukesh and Bindu Patel; and Dr. Dineoh and Vitthal Patel and families.

The crash is under investigation by the East Brunswick Police Department Special Operations Section. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Ptl. John Bird or Ptl. Glenn Tabasko at 732-390-6969.