Man Lost Family in Car Crash, Pens Heartfelt Thank You to Firefighters, Medics

Three years after losing his wife, infant son and stepdaughter in a car crash along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Beltsville, Kerne T. Andries returned to the headquarters of the Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department in Prince George’s County to deliver a thank you letter.

Andries was introduced to Fire Chief Marc Bashoor and shared his thoughts about the tragedy in August of 2011 and feelings of waking up, realizing he had been driving the van his family was in at the time of the car crash.

He also shared his appreciation and gratitude for first responders who saved not only his life, but that of his stepson.

A copy of the letter provided by Prince George’s County Fire/EMS was sent to Patch with Andries’ permission.

Dear Mark Brady,

(Chief Spokesperson/Media Personnel of PG County EMS Fire/Rescue)

This letter is long overdue but it no less heartfelt now as it was then.

August 13 will always be a difficult day for me to face. It was an early morning on August 13, 2011 when I lost everything that was dear to me: my beloved wife Tracy-Ann, my infant son Kerne Travis Jr (aka Prince), and my step-daughter Patrique Danielle. It was a horrific revelation when I woke up days later to the devastating news that they perished in a single vehicle crash. Worse still was the realization that I was the driver of the vehicle. I still don’t remember how the accident happened and that memory void will haunt me for the rest of my life. I’ve learned a lot about the collision in the time that has elapsed from persons who were involved in various respects with the investigation. Details that emerged from the police report were difficult to digest.

An article that I found on the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department News shone the brightest light on the horrors that my family endured from the moment of impact. The report published on August 13, although not vivid, hinted at the chaos of the life-altering scene that First Responders encountered when they arrived on the scene of the incident. My imagination of what those moments were like is a punishing foe that I’ll never escape. After countless hours of grief counseling, practical coping strategies, and support from friends and family the grief is still insurmountable.

In all of this I am eternally grateful for the heroic and unstinting efforts of the Prince George’s county Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department, particularly, the Fire/EMS units from Beltsville Fire/EMS Station 831, Greenbelt Fire/EMS Station 835, Berwyn Heights Fire/EMS Station 814, Paramedic Unit 810 (Laurel), Paramedic Unit 812 (College Park) and the Emergency Medical Services Duty Officer for doing their part to save the survivors. Had it not been for your quick responses, diligence and bravery I and my stepson Trayden would have most likely succumbed to our injuries also. Thank you too to the employees from the Heavy Duty Rescue Squad (Berwyn Heights). Thanks too to the US Park Police and Maryland State Police Trooper helicopters and the personnel that assisted with transport of patients to Children’s National Hospital and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Centers. Also, to the Call TAkers and Dispatchers at the Prince George’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Department, I am truly thankful for the quick response in dispatching help. I owe a tremendous wealth of gratitude to all those who were involved directly and indirectly in saving lives and handling the incident with professionalism and compassion for the injured and the deceased.

As time passes, and I continue to seek out clues and answers, some of what I have learned has offered me comfort in small measures. Words cannot express how much I appreciate the bravery of all those mentioned above and countless others. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,

Kerne T. Andries

>>Kerne T. Andries (left) with Fire Chief Marc Bashoor (right). Photo courtesy of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department