Carson City children of Storey deputy injured in fatal Oregon crash
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Tue, 07/31/2018 - 4:00pm
UPDATE: The Storey County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is asking for the public's help to assist them in supporting one of their deputy's children, Jonathan and Kaitlyn Francone of Carson City, who were injured in a fatal car crash near the Oregon-California state border.
The two are children of Deputy Anthony Francone and Kristyn Smithwick of Carson City.
According to Yreka News (Calif.), on July 29th, 2018 at 9:52 AM, a 911 call came in reporting a multiple vehicle, major injury traffic collision in the Tulelake area.
A dark blue 2001 GMC Sierra pickup truck was being driven by a 65 year old Klamath Falls woman, near the California-Oregon border.
A bronze 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan was being driven by a 44-year-old man from Carson City heading northbound.
The driver of the GMC failed to notice the stop sign at the intersection of SR 139 and SR 161, broadsiding the Toyota minivan. After the two vehicles collided, the Toyota minivan overturned and the GMC truck was partially blocking State Line Road, Yreka News reports.
There were a total of eight people in the two vehicles, and all eight people were transported due to injuries.
Kaitlyn, who has Muscular Dystrophy, suffered a broken jaw in two places and will require surgery. Jonathan who is in critical condition immediately went into surgery to have his spleen removed, according to a news release from the Storey County Sheriff's Deputies Association.
He also suffered a fractured skull, a broken leg and broken ribs. Jonathan is still in a medically induced coma to help reduce damage until the swelling goes away, according to the news release.
Jonathan needs at least one more surgery once he comes out of the medically induced coma to repair his leg.
Friends and family have identified Gabbi Smithwick, 17, as the Oregon teen who died as a result of the crash. Friends and family note Gabbi spent much of her life in the Carson City and Douglas County area. Information about Gabbi was not previously made available.
"As everyone knows, medical bills add up very fast and are very costly," said the spokesperson for the Storey County Deputy Sheriff's Association. "The accident happened away from home, so the family will need help with lodging and food as well. Please help our fellow Deputy and his family during this very unfortunate and hard time."
So far over $15,000 has been raised for the children, but the goal is $50,000.
To donate, visit the go fund me page for Johnathan and Kaitlyn Francone.
A donation jar has also been put out at the Westside Pour House for the Francone and Smithwick families.
Or you can donate to Anthony Francone at Wells Fargo Bank.
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