Family, friends honor two EMTs killed in Jupiter crash
JUPITER — Remembering Paul Besaw and Lahiri Garcia as two men who dedicated their lives to helping others, about 100 friends, family and first responders attended a dedication Wednesday at Jupiter Medical Center for the two medical technicians killed June 1 in a crash on Indiantown Road.
“They never took the limelight. They were always learning from each other. They always gave 110 percent,” said Bob Besaw, Paul’s father, who worked in the JMC emergency department until he retired. Paul’s mother, Denise, works in the operating room at JMC.
JMC dedicated the Emergency Services lounge to the two first responders. They had just dropped off a patient at JMC before the crash.
Besaw, 36, and Garcia, 51, were alone about 3 a.m. in the American Medical Response ambulance and on their way to the ambulance station on Indian Creek Drive west of Central Boulevard.
Genero D. Ajqui, who lives about 50 yards from the crash scene, was drinking alcohol before the crash, according to the traffic crash report. Charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and related charges are pending, the report said.
Ajqui, who witnesses say was driving the red Chrysler Sebring that hit the ambulance, was in fair condition Wednesday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, said Ryan Lieber, hospital spokesman.
Dawn Besaw, Paul’s wife, says she plans to set up a foundation for children whose parents have been killed by drunken drivers. Bill Hall, AMR regional director, said the company will support the effort.
“Paul would want to help these children,” said Dawn, who attended the dedication with their 6-year-old daughter, Allison.
Allison surprised the gathering when she walked up to the podium while her grandfather, Bob Besaw, was addressing the crowd at the emergency room entrance at JMC.
As he held her and the gathering went silent, she sang her favorite song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”