Corey Tucker

When Spirit EMS of Greenville, Ohio, deployed three ambulances to Florida in response to Hurricane Debby, their crews could not have imagined that a breakdown would lead them to meet a true guardian angel. After experiencing back-to-back mechanical failures—first an engine failure in Kentucky and then another breakdown just 25 miles from their staging destination in Florida—Spirit EMS crewmembers Tyler Pratt and Linda Smith found themselves stranded along a busy highway with little hope of timely help. Local service providers were unavailable due to hurricane preparations, leaving the crew in a situation that felt hopeless.

That was when Corey Tucker of Century Ambulance appeared. Driving home after preparing his own company’s fleet for the impending storm, Corey noticed the occupied ambulance on the roadside. Unlike the countless vehicles that had passed before him, Corey turned around, stopped, and offered his assistance. Drawing on more than 20 years of mechanical expertise, Corey assessed the problem, safely towed the ambulance and crew to the staging area in his Century Ambulance tow truck, and left them with his phone number and a detailed plan for the necessary repairs.

The following day, when Spirit EMS was unable to find a Florida shop with the needed throttle body in stock—suppliers warned it could take weeks or even months—Corey once again stepped in. With the support of Century Ambulance leadership, he returned on company time with all required parts and repaired the ambulance himself. Even more remarkably, when Spirit EMS asked who to compensate, Corey and the Century Ambulance administration responded, “You don’t owe us a thing. Thanks for coming to help us and the people of Florida in our time of need.”

Thanks to Corey’s generosity, Spirit EMS was able to continue its disaster relief mission without the enormous challenge of transporting a broken ambulance more than 1,100 miles back to Ohio. What began as a moment of despair became a powerful example of EMS teamwork, compassion, and selflessness.

Spirit EMS and Century Ambulance are proud to recognize Corey Tucker as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life for his extraordinary service, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to helping others in their time of need.