Accident victim's widow: 'We were together 24/7'

Beverly Simpson said she will miss her husband most at night.

"Because during the day I can be active and do things but at night I can't," she said Tuesday. "We were together 24/7. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he had lunch with his golfing buddies at the Lux Cafe, but other than that we did everything together."

Simpson's husband, David, suffered a heart attack Monday night and was being taken Bronson Battle Creek when the LifeCare Ambulance collided with a car at North Avenue and Garfield Avenue.

Two people in the car died and Simpson later died at the hospital.

"They told me he had an enlarged heart but I knew that, because he is such a nice guy," she said. "He had a big heart for everybody."

Battle Creek police reported the accident at 11:51 p.m. Monday and said the ambulance was northbound with its emergency lights and siren activated. A car traveling westbound on Garfield Avenue failed to stop for a stop sign and flashing red light at the intersection and was struck in the driver's-side door by the ambulance.

Officers identified the driver of the car as Shirley A. Stokes, 61, and her passenger as James E. Stokes, 54, and said both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Simpson, 74, was transferred to another ambulance and taken to the hospital about three blocks away, but later died.

Beverly Simpson said she was not told her husband's ambulance had crashed until she learned it from a reporter Tuesday afternoon.

Simpson was born in Battle Creek and attended Battle Creek schools. He was self employed and owned Simpson Excavating for many years. He and his first wife, Linda, divorced in 1983 and he married Beverly on March 16, 1984, a year after her husband died.

They knew each other because she owned the Frog Pond at 915 E. Emmett St. and he was a customer.

They both have been retired since about 1996. Dave Simpson enjoyed woodworking and his yard.

"He had a beautiful yard and he loved his yard and liked the compliments too," his wife said.

She said they played golf together.

"He was a good teacher. Patient."

He had a hole-in-one on the par-three number 15 at Riverside Country Club and she had one on the same hole a year later.

Beverly Simpson said the last thing her husband said to her before bed Monday was, "I am sorry I yelled at you today. Those were his last words. He had a bad day and I probably got a little lippy, which I can do. I probably snapped at him and he snapped at me, so it was even."

She said her husband was up about 11 p.m. to use the bathroom and stumbled as he came back to bed. He went limp and she called 911.

"They did everything they could. They had the zapper and the bedroom as full of people. They said he had a light pulse."

Police said Stokes failed to stop at the intersection and her car was struck by the oncoming ambulance. Investigators believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.

"There were beer cans inside the vehicle and the vehicle did not slow down so speed and alcohol are factors," said Major Jim Grafton. "Anytime you get an accident of this nature it is tragic and now three people are dead because of a poor decision."

Two Battle Creek firefighters and two paramedics in the ambulance suffered bumps and bruises, police said.

The accident was reported by one of the paramedics in the ambulance.

Battle Creek firefighters assisted in the extrication of victims in the crash.

The department's accident reconstructionists are working on the investigation.

In a statement, LifeCare said "the collective thoughts and prayers of the LifeCare Ambulance Service family are with the families of those involved and the ambulance and firefighters who were injured in this crash.

"We want to express our sorrow and sadness about this situation. We're hopeful for healing and we will do whatever we can to offer support in this time of need."

Visitation for Simpson will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Call Trace Christenson at 966-0685. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson