Local paramedic killed in crash

A paramedic with Gonzales County EMS was killed Thursday morning when his motorcycle collided with a truck on Hwy. 87 in southern Gonzales County.

The Texas Highway Patrol reported that at 6:59 a.m. Oct. 15, Jorge Ortiz, 29, of San Antonio, was driving a 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup,  waiting to turn at the intersection of Hwy. 87 and CR 210. Matthew Griffin, 41, of Westhoff, was driving a 2014 Suzuki motorcycle westbound on Hwy. 87 when the pickup pulled out in front of him, colliding with the motorcycle in the westbound lane.

Griffin was taken to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center in Seguin, where he later died from his injuries.

Ortiz was issued a citation for failure to yield right-of-way turning left.

Griffin was on his way to work at the Nixon EMS station.

Although heavy fog was reported in much of Gonzales County that morning, troopers reported weather conditions to be clear in the Westhoff area.

Griffin had been with Gonzales County EMS for three years and had spent a total of 20 years as an EMT. He was also a firefighter,

Fellow paramedic Mike Furrh remembered his friend and colleague as “one of a kind,” and being a generous and selfless person. Not only were they EMS co-workers, they were also involved in the Texas Roaddocs, a motorcycle riding club made up of EMS personnel.

“Matt was close friends with all of us,” Furrh said. “There’ll never be another Matt Griffin. “He was a man of his own, a very thorough person at work. He gave of himself, and loved his family, the Road Docs and his work.”