by Kelsey Penrose
Last year, both the Nevada State Museum and the Northern Nevada Children’s Museum welcomed new directors: husband and wife pair Josh Bonde and Becky Hall, respectively.
The paleontologist pair were involved in a fatal crash in Southern Nevada late last month that left them badly injured, and Hall’s 10-year-old daughter was killed, which was first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. News of the tragedy has rallied the community to help.
According to their reporting, a vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. 95 in Nye County the night of May 20 drove into oncoming traffic, apparently in an attempt to overtake a truck, and crashed head-on with the family’s pickup.
The two Las Vegas men occupying the vehicle were killed: 22-year-old Victor Jacuinde-Garcia and 24-year-old Giovanni Vazquez.
Hall’s 12-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle and sustained injuries but has since been released.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support the family’s expenses following the crash. In less than a week, more than $55,000 has been collected by over 300 individuals.
According to organizer Rebecca Virgil, the family was traveling to celebrate a family member’s 5th grade promotion when the crash took place.
Bonde underwent emergency surgery for abdominal trauma as well as fractures in his back and ribs, along with a shattered ankle.
The 12-year-old underwent surgery for abdominal injuries.
Hall suffered a shattered right knee and femur, a broken left foot, a fused broken back, a broken sternum, weakened neck, and required surgery to repair abdominal and intestinal trauma.
To support the family through the GoFundMe, please click here.
