WALKER — What began as an ordinary workday for a Livingston Parish paramedic has become a life-altering journey marked by pain, faith, and an unexpected second chance at life.
Connor Phillips, a 23-year-old paramedic with Acadian Ambulance Service, was injured in the same I-12 crash near the Walker exit that left five people hurt after an 18-wheeler struck an ambulance on the shoulder of the interstate. The crash happened just after 7:15 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2025 as first responders were in the back of an ambulance treating a man suffering from chest pains.
Impact on I-12
Phillips says that morning started like so many others.
“So basically it was an ordinary day. I got up, went to work like I normally do,” Phillips said. “It was actually my off day. I picked up a day and started my shift at five o’clock.”
After completing an inter-facility transport, Phillips and his partner were dispatched to I-12 East for a patient complaining of chest pain near the Walker exit. Emergency crews were already on scene, and the ambulance pulled fully onto the shoulder with a fire truck blocking traffic to protect them.
“We did our normal thing,” Phillips said. “We got out of the truck, made patient contact, ran our tests, and determined the patient wanted to go to the nearest hospital.”
Inside the ambulance, Phillips was securing the patient to the stretcher when everything changed.
“The last thing I remember is my partner saying something like, ‘watch out,’ and then us getting hit,” he said.
Moments That Changed Everything
An 18-wheeler slammed into the back of the ambulance, sending shockwaves through the unit. Phillips was knocked unconscious.
“I woke up laying on the bench seat with my head split open, bleeding everywhere, and my ankle crushed between the stretcher and the bench seat,” he recalled.
Both medics were injured. Phillips’ partner was flown by helicopter due to the severity of her injuries. Phillips was transported by ground. Five people in total were hurt in the crash, including the original patient and other first responders.
A Devastating Discovery
Physically, Phillips faced a long recovery from a head wound and crushed ankle. But it was what doctors discovered next that would change his life forever.
During routine scans following the crash, physicians noticed a mass on his thyroid. At first, it didn’t appear urgent.
“I just went on with my life,” Phillips said. “I was about to get married in November. I did physical therapy, got back to work.”
Months later, further imaging revealed the mass had grown and multiplied. A biopsy confirmed hyperthyroid cancer that had already spread to his lymph nodes.
“They told me it’s the most common and most survivable cancer,” Phillips said. “But it’s in my thyroid and all my lymph nodes on the left side.”
Doctors say the cancer likely would have gone undetected for decades.
“I would not have known about this cancer if it weren’t for the accident,” Phillips said. “It has no symptoms. I could have lived another 20 years and never known.”
Balancing Duty, Family, and Fear
Now newly married and building a future with his wife, the diagnosis hit hard.
“It scares me,” Phillips said. “I love my job, but at the end of the day, my wife means the world to me.”
Despite exhaustion and pain, Phillips returned to work, driven by a deep sense of duty to the community where he grew up.
“I feel a responsibility to serve Livingston Parish,” he said. “That’s why I work here.”
MORE: “It’s a miracle” | Man involved in crash on I-12 with big rig is improving
Support from Acadian Ambulance
Phillips’ supervisor Courtney Vittorio Locco released a statement expressing how proud she is:
“Connor Phillips is a dedicated EMT serving our community in Livingston Parish. He has always been there for others in their time of need, and now he needs our support. His commitment to caring for others is admirable, and it is difficult to see him facing this health challenge.
Connor has the full support of our organization as he undergoes treatment, and we remain hopeful for his recovery. He will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers as he focuses on healing, and we look forward to seeing him back doing what he does best.”
What Comes Next
Phillips is now preparing for a major surgery to remove his thyroid and affected lymph nodes — a procedure expected to last more than four hours. Doctors have warned of potential complications, including vocal cord damage or shoulder weakness that could keep him off the job for months.
“For me, what’s next is just getting through surgery,” Phillips said. “Getting my strength back, relying on my family and my work family, and trying to get back to doing the job I love. I wouldn’t be me without it.”
A Message of Faith and Awareness
Through it all, Phillips says faith has carried him forward.
“I thank God every day,” he said. “He gave me a second chance at life. I’m not done helping people — by no means.”
A crash meant to take lives instead revealed one that still has so much left to give.
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