A DeKalb County firefighter, new to her role but deeply committed, suffered severe injuries in a collision while en route to a call. Eboni Kennedy, who launched her firefighting career just months prior, is now facing a challenging path to recovery after a firetruck accident resulted in the loss of her leg.
As reported by FOX5 Atlanta, Kennedy was responding to an incident on December 5 when the tragedy struck on Rockbridge Road. The firetruck she was aboard crashed, trapping Kennedy and ultimately leading to her injury. "Ended up hitting a tree and I lost my leg. We were trapped inside the vehicle," Kennedy said, details shared in the statement obtained by FOX5 Atlanta. Her career, barely half a year old after graduating from a rigorous ten-month fire academy, has been abruptly halted.
Kennedy's story, one of sudden loss and newfound challenges, resonates deeply within the firefighting community and beyond. Less than a year into a job she felt called to serve, she finds herself navigating a new reality. According to Kennedy, in her own words to FOX5 Atlanta, "I just prayed. I asked God for guidance and purpose. I wanted to be something bigger than myself."
Support for Kennedy extends from family to the wider community, with her mother, Felicia Metcalf, expressing confidence in her daughter's resilience. "She is a special kind," Metcalf said, calling her daughter a "tough princess," as relayed by FOX5 Atlanta. Meanwhile, the local firefighters' union is backing Kennedy's recovery through a GoFundMe campaign. To further her recovery, Kennedy is expected to be transferred to Shepherd Center for rehabilitation.
The DeKalb County police confirmed that the single-vehicle crash occurred on the evening of December 5, as stated in WSB-TV. The accident on Rockbridge Road near S. Deshon Road has propelled a community to rally around Kennedy, illustrating the bonds that hold first responders together in both their bravest and most vulnerable moments. Despite the tragedy, Kennedy herself remains committed to her recovery, affirming her determination to the end, "I'm getting better every day," she told FOX5 Atlanta. "I know right now. I know what I've set out to do in life, I've always done it."
