Local Teacher, Daughter Recover From Head-On Collision

REDLANDS>>It only takes a moment for life to be turned upside down. For Kim Tibbetts, a kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart Academy in Redlands for 15 years and parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and her daughter Rian Tibbetts, life changed after the two were in a serious car accident. On the evening of July 19, their blue Toyota FJ Cruiser was involved in a head-on collision on Highway 38 as the two were on their way home to Angelus Oaks. They were on the way back from Rian's first high school varsity volleyball game. Both survived the crash but have sustained serious injuries from the accident as the two have already had multiple surgeries. Rian's injuries include multiple breaks in her right hand, pelvic fractures and multiple fractures in right foot, along with several deep lacerations on her left arm that have severed some ligaments. Rian has undergone two surgeries including blood transfusions and has needed two additional blood transfusions even after the surgeries. According to a GoFundMe page, set up by Lisa Rosado-Beckley, a parent at Sacred Heart Academy, doctors are monitoring her closely and as of now, will not need more surgery. She will soon be able to start physical therapy. Her mother, Kim, has serious injuries including several broken bones in her ankle, a complete right femur break, knee fracture, clavicle fracture, neck fracture, pelvic fractures, five rib fractures and a bowel rupture. After undergoing three surgeries, she will still need at least two more surgeries soon and several more, as well as extensive physical therapy. With a goal of $20,000, the Go Fund Me page has raised more than $17,000 by more than 130 people in eight days. Rosado-Beckly has three daughters, all whom have been taught by Kim. She said she wanted to help the family by creating the page because she said she knew Kim and Rian's road to recovery would be difficult as well as financially taxing. "I started the page and wrote the words that everyone who has ever been blessed to know Kim would have wanted to say," Rosado-Beckley said. "The donations started coming very quickly. It was obvious how much she has touched people's lives by the generosity that people gave in their donations and the wonderful outpouring of prayers and well wishes. There have been small donations and very large donations. It shows how tightly knit our Sacred Heart Family and friends are. There have also been a generous outpouring of financial support from friends and family of the Tibbetts Family as well as former students, colleagues and players that Kim has coached and teammates from Rian's Volleyball team." Before Kim married her husband, Steve, she played basketball at East Tennessee State University and later coached volleyball at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. “She is the volleyball coach at Sacred Heart Academy and has always been involved at the school,” Rosado-Beckley said on the GoFundMe page. “She has been the MC for the annual Stirs and Golf Tournament fundraisers because her sense of humor, smile and laugh are infectious. She is loved by all and has helped foster Christ-centered education for hundreds of children. Her classroom is fun yet disciplined and all students and former students adore her.” Rian is 13 years old and recently graduated from Sacred Heart Academy. She has played softball and volleyball and currently plays club volleyball for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club. She was supposed to start her freshman year in High School at Redlands East Valley as she made varsity volleyball as a freshman. “Rian is Kim and Steve's only child,” Rosado-Beckley said on the page. “It has been heartbreaking for Kim not to be there for her daughter. Steve has been going back and forth between Kim and Rian but spending most of his time with Kim as her injuries are worse. Needless to say, it has been exhausting for him to wrap his head around such a tragedy that has occurred to his family. There has been round the clock watch for Rian by Kim's closest friends and colleagues. They report back to Kim and keep her mind at ease so her precious daughter is not waking up to an empty room in the hospital.” To help support the Tibbets, please visit www.gofundme.com/2g4jtxgs to make a donation to the family.