Asante Sebastian Contreras, age 20, and a student in the Department of Emergency Health Sciences Paramedic Certification Program at UT Health San Antonio, died in a traffic crash on Sunday, May 3, in San Antonio.
Contreras worked as an emergency medical technician for an ambulance service in San Antonio and, as a student in the School of Health Professions program, was fulfilling his dream of becoming a paramedic.
He was only one week away from successfully completing the program. President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, has authorized that Contreras receive his certification posthumously.
On Sunday, May 3, Contreras finished his EMS shift and was on his way home when the crash occurred. He was to have completed his practicum testing on May 4 and then his final examinations. “He was fully expected to successfully complete the program and earn his UT Health San Antonio diploma,” said Lance Villers, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Health Sciences.
Contreras and his family are from Del Rio, where he started his EMS career as an EMT.
“Asante was a natural caregiver with a ready smile, always willing to lend a helping hand. The EMS profession will never fully realize the loss of Asante’s potential and dedication,” Dr. Villers added.