Emergency Room Nurse Killed On Way Home From Work By Loose Trailer

Emergency Room Nurse Killed On Way Home From Work

Posted: Mar 15, 2010 6:18 PM EDT Updated: Mar 15, 2010 6:54 PM EDT

By Amanda Hara

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Freeda Simmons left Vanderbilt's emergency room as a nurse and returned as a patient after a crash on Vietnam Veterans Boulevard in Gallatin Monday morning. Despite their best efforts, co-workers could not save her.

The 50 year old had been a nurse at Vanderbilt for seven years.

"She was a great woman of faith. She was a great woman that just loved her patients, loved the staff, and the staff loved her. The physicians loved her. The nurses loved her, and it's been real hard," said Emergency Services director Gary Howard.

Early Monday morning, Freeda graced her patients and left for home, but never made it.

She was caught behind an Allied Waste Services truck that lost its dumpster container. Police said her Honda Prelude slammed into the loose trailer.
Two Semis Crash, Closing Vietnam Veterans Boulevard

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating whether the tractor trailer was properly hitched.

"Freeda was an amazing nurse. I mean we need more like her. I would get lots and lots of compliments on how comforting and how inspiring and how reassuring it was to have Freeda taking care of them," said Howard.

Simmon's ran track and field for Murray State in the 80's. Her son Picasso plays basketball for the University. He said he will still go to the NCAA tournament on Thursday in her honor.

E-mail: ahara@newschannel5.com