Questions still linger after teen killed by ambulance

Samson Callender

The funeral for a Lynn Camp High School freshman, who was killed Saturday night when he was struck by an ambulance, will be held Saturday in Corbin.

Family and friends will pay their final respects to 14-year-old Samson Callender during the service at 2 p.m. at O’Neil-Lawson Funeral Home in Corbin.

However, Callender’s mom, Holly Johnson, will have to continue to wait for answers as Kentucky State Police have declined to answer additional questions concerning the wreck.

In response to an email asking for: The identity of the ambulance driver, how long he had been driving ambulances, whether the ambulance’s lights and sirens were on when the crash occurred, how fast the ambulance was going, whether the driver was attempting to pass another vehicle, and whether investigators have taken a blood sample from the driver to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol/drugs, state police stated no more information will be released.

In the email, Trooper Shane Jacobs, public affairs officer at Post 10 in Harlan, said KSP officials noted that information is part of the investigation and would not be released.

Callender’s mom, Holly Johnson, said her son was a smart, funny and very loving boy who was very respectful and well mannered.

“He cared and was concerned about other people,” Johnson said.

“He was well-known by everyone in school or out in public,” she said.

Callender moved to the area from Minneapolis, Minnesota. in the middle of the previous school year. While it was too late to play basketball last year, Johnson said her son was going to sign up to play.

Callender was preparing for the upcoming year by riding his bike to the Corbin Recreation Center where he would play basketball.

When not on the basketball court, Johnson said her son could be found outside either fishing, taking care of his chickens, pit bulls and horse, or spending time with his cousin, Auston Bolton.

“He and his cousin would go out into the woods behind the house and shoot the guns off and hunt,” Johnson said, adding Callender was a good child.

“I’ll never forget his smile and his laughter,” she said.

“He was my baby.”

Johnson said Callender’s father,’ Rodney Callender, Sr. will be coming from St. Paul, Minnesota. “I know my baby would want his dad here,” Johnson said.

Kentucky State Police are continuing the investigation into happened when a Knox County EMS ambulance struck Callender, Keyshawn Blevins and Trenton Brock as they rode their bikes in the median of U.S. 25E near Sammie’s Auction House about 10 p.m. Saturday.

According to state police, the ambulance was en route from Barbourville to Baptist Health Corbin with a patient when it dropped off the roadway and into the median striking the juveniles.

Callender was pronounced dead at the scene. Blevins and Brock were taken to Baptist Health Corbin for treatment of their injuries. They have since been released.

Faculty, staff and students at Lynn Camp spent Monday attempting to deal with the tragedy.

“It was very somber this morning,” said Lynn Camp High School Principal Anthony Pennington.

Pennington said faculty and staff met before school began to coordinate the response. In addition, counselors from other schools joined Lynn Camp counselors to offer grief counseling.

During the morning announcements, a moment of silence was held to remember Callender.

Though Callender had only been at Lynn Camp a short time, Pennington said he had become well known among the student body and faculty.

“Samson was very outgoing and enthusiastic,” Pennington said. “He had a lot of friends.”

Pennington recalled speaking with Samson, particularly about whatever was occurring in the NBA.

As a fan of the Miami Heat, and in particular superstar LeBron James, Callender was very interested in where the free agent would be playing.

“You could always relate to him through sports,” Pennington said.

Pennington said school officials have been in contact with Callender’s family, offering whatever support they can, including the use of the school cafeteria as a place to for family and friends to meet and be together after the funeral.

“This is obviously a very tragic event,” Pennington said. “We have to pull together as a family and lean on each other and take care of each other.”