VIDEO: Career firefighter Ray Elmore, who was severely injured in a 2018 wreck, is getting ready for the next stage of his life – retirement. Elmore was riding his motorcycle to work Oct. 9, 2018, when a car traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line, hitting him. "I was laid on the side of the road and next thing I know, I wake up in the hospital in the ICU," said Elmore, who is a firefighter with Concord and the deputy chief at Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department. The crash happened just after 6:30 a.m. on Charlotte Highway (US-21), south of Interstate 77 near Troutman. Elmore had to have part of his left leg amputated. His arm was broken and ribs were cracked.