Prominent Dallas Doctor Dies From Intoxicated Driver
Dr. Gary Purdue, chief of the burn section at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and co-director of the Parkland Memorial Hospital burn unit in Dallas for 22 years, has died in a motorcycle crash. Police said he was riding north in the 10400 block of Webb Chapel Road at 7:20 a.m. when the driver of an SUV ran a stop sign, hit him and knocked him through a backyard fence. Even though Purdue was wearing a helmet, he was pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital this morning. Police arrested the SUV's driver, Justin Heaton, and charged him with intoxication manslaughter.
Purdue was a past president of the American Burn Association and a burn specialist who was instrumental in leading the Parkland burn unit to national prominence. The unit is one of the nation's largest and treats almost 1,000 burn patients a year. Purdue is survived by his wife, daughter, three sons and a grandson.
This is truly a tragic, senseless loss for his family, friends, and citizens that he has touched the past 22 years. Wearing a helmet, not riding when roads are slick, and making yourself visible to other cars, is all good advice when riding a motorcycle. However, even though Purdue was abiding every rule in the book, there was nothing he could do to stop an intoxicated, reckless driver from slamming into him. Justin Heaton’s myspace page says he likes to “party, party, party,….and that I am reckless.” Justice will be served on Justin, but I am sad that North Texas lost Purdue, such an outstanding citizen.
Information and commentary is provided by Texas Motorcycle Accident Attorney Mark A. Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you have any questions about a motorcycle accident or a drunk driving accident, please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.
Comments
I am reading this for the first time and am so mad. Dr. Purdue and his burn team saved my life in 2001 after I received a 65%total body flash burn. I am alive and well and he is gone due to the reckless acts of another. I hope some one that loves him sees this post and knows that many others owe him so much , we will greive as well.
Posted by: pat t. | November 1, 2010 2:30 PM