By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
One local woman experienced a harrowing and sudden change in fortunes earlier this month. And now her family is going to their friends and neighbors in the Moapa Valley community in hopes of getting her some assistance.
Overton resident Jessie Riggs, 25, was seriously injured recently in an auto accident. On Monday, May 13, Riggs was driving her 2015 Toyota Yaris northbound on Moapa Valley Blvd right at the Ryan Ave. curve. She had her 10 month old baby girl, Rylie in the back seat.
For yet undetermined reasons, Riggs’ vehicle drifted into the southbound lane at the curve. At a speed of around 40 mph, Riggs’ car had a head-on collision with a Nissan Altima driven by another local resident, Kristi Delgadillo.
All involved in the accident suffered serious injuries and were transported to the hospital.
Baby Rylie, who was secured in a car seat, suffered some fractured bones and a lot of bumps and bruises, but was released from the hospital that day. Delgadillo was also seriously injured and required surgery.
But Riggs’ injuries were the most extensive and severe. She suffered a broken femur, broken bones in both arms, massive damage to both knees, multiple fractured vertebrae, a broken foot, bruised lungs, countless cuts and bruises, and she was scalped by the windshield of her car from the front of her head to the back.
“She was broken up pretty bad,” said Jessie’s father Roger Riggs who was called to the scene that day. “It was the most horrible thing for a father to see.”
NHP reports determined that Riggs had not been wearing a seatbelt. Roger said that this was abnormal in that Jessie customarily put on a seatbelt while driving.
“I don’t know why she wasn’t wearing it at the time,” Roger said. “But without restraint she probably shouldn’t have survived that crash.”
Roger said that NHP troopers on the scene were likewise surprised that Jessie had not been ejected from the vehicle and killed.
“She must have had an angel in there with her,” he added.
“I think the message to everyone in the community should be to leave a little earlier, slow down, drive carefully, and for heavens sake, always wear a seatbelt!” Roger said.
Jessie has a long road ahead to recovery. As of the end of last week, she had already undergone five surgeries. And there are probably more to come.
“It is no doubt going to be a difficult painful recovery for her,” Roger said.
While Jessie and her daughter were covered by medical insurance, Roger explained that expenses are still adding up for the young family. There are a multitude of incidental expenses, healthcare expenses not covered by insurance, loss of household income, and childcare expenses which are already starting to add up.
A GOFUNDME page has been set up for the family at www.gofundme.com/jessiesrecoveryfund.
In addition a donation account has been set up at America First Credit Union under the name of Jessie Joy Riggs with account number 9109422.
“We appreciate any help we can get,” Roger said.
