EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) –Nearly three years after one of the deadliest crashes ever in Eugene, one family is trying to turn the tragedy into something positive.
On January 21st, 2009, a drunk driver ran a red light at 11th and Bertelson, hitting an SUV carrying five passengers. Among those killed; 34-year old Connie Vermilyea and her 10-year-old son, Jaziah, 36-year old Heather Mulgrave, and 11-year old Nima Gibba. Mulgrave’s son Jakobi was the only one to survive the crash.
The parents of victim Nima Gibba have started “Nimas Wish Foundation” to develop sustainability for West Africa. Nima’s father Eliman is from West Africa and says he had planned to take Nima there with him. He and his wife Alexandra visited last December, and have been working to get the foundation up and running in Nima’s honor.
Her stepmother Alexandra Sianis-Gibba says Nima always had a yearning to help other children. This is why she and Eliman wanted to create a foundation that will do that. Starting with education, they want to help provide them with opportunities such as sustainable farming, health care, and job training.
The link to Nimas Wish Foundation is on the KMTR website. Just click the “get it” button.
