           |
       |
 |
 Local Hero Gives His Life to Save Baby Nyah Carlson's life has already been marked by large traumatic events, even though she's less than three months old. First, there's her birthday, September 11. Most of the world knows about the tragedy brought about by terrorism on 9-1-1.
Nyah's mother, Heather Carlson, said she went on a walk through her Athens neighborhood when she met 39-year-old social worker Randy Burris. He struck up a conversation which was suddenly interrupted by the sound of squealing tires. Both adults saw a car sliding out of control and coming right toward Nyah. Burris, a father of three, went for the baby's stroller.
Her prayer was answered, but it came with a price. The out-of-control car seemed to follow the path of the man and the child. Then there was impact. Nyah was thrown from her stroller and landed 25 feet away. She was still strapped in her mangled car seat, crying, but alive. The driver sped away in the car. Burris suffered the brunt of the collision's impact. He only lived for two days after the crash. "He basically saved both of our lives. He did the greatest thing anybody could do for anybody else... and I'm very grateful," Carlson said.
"If Randy had time to think about what he was going to do, he still would have done it. No question," said Scott Guy, Randy's brother-in-law. "Randy has done this, behaved this way all his life, put others ahead of himself." Police arrested Ricardo Arriaga-Gutierrez in connection with the incident. Initially, police charged Arriaga-Gutierrez with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license Now, since Burris' death, authorities decided to upgrade the charges to include vehicular homicide for Burris' death. Arriaga-Gutierrez is being held without bond and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Nyah's mother said she was thankful for the gifts her child both brought and received in her short life. First there was the gift of life she brought on the day she was born and now the gift of peace she carries with her during her journey in the land of the living. There's another gift the baby will probably learn to treasure as she grows up. It's a stuffed animal given to her by Burris' family. Anyone who would like to contribute to a college fund set up for the Burris children can make donations to: Athens Regional Medical Center
Social Work Services Attn: Randy Burris Children College Fund 1199 Prince Avenue Athens, GA 30606 Contact: (706) 475-3436. | |
|
| This page last modified: April 22, 2004 | ||
 |
Copyright
© 2006 ARMC - 1199 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA
- 30606 - 706.475.7000 - webmaster@armc.org |
 |