Thousands raised in wake of RV park tragedy

Nick Morgan, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·2 min read

Jul. 7—In the immediate aftermath of a Fourth of July tragedy in Curry County that claimed the life of one White City woman on vacation and severely injured another, friends and supporters have raised thousands of dollars to help with a survivor's medical expenses and for the child who lost her mother.

A pair of GoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns had raised more than $7,000 combined as of Wednesday to help cover medical expenses for 46-year-old Rebecca Williams, and for burial expenses — among other financial needs — for the family of 38-year-old Hiedei Bailey.

The women were struck by a van driver who lost consciousness behind the wheel Monday afternoon while they were spending the holiday at the Beach Front RV Park in Brookings-Harbor.

In the span of 22 hours, a crowdfunding campaign for Rebecca Williams and her family had raised more than $6,800 toward a $10,000 goal with 63 donations.

The campaign for the Williams family, organized by Elizabeth McNannay of White City, said that Williams was rushed to a nearby trauma center with multiple broken bones and organ damage, and that all money raised "will be used to support Rebecca's recovery and help her boys during this challenging time."

"The road to recovery will be many, many months long," McNannay's page says.

A crowdfunding campaign for Hiedei Bailey's family had raised more than $1,300 from 22 donations as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Bailey's crowdfunding campaign, organized by Lynne Dehaven of Medford, states that all proceeds will go directly to her 11-year-old daughter's guardian to help with the child's needs.

Dehaven described Bailey as a nurse with a "megawatt smile" who "survived so much in a very short life." Bailey served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, survived cancer and devoted herself as a nurse at the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics.

"She never met an animal she didn't try to save, and as a nurse at the VA hospital she did the same things for every human," Dehaven wrote.

One donor who served with Bailey during her 2004 tour in Afghanistan described Bailey as "such a treasure."

"I met her in Afghanistan, and she brought fun to war," the donor wrote. "She was always upbeat and loved every minute. I miss her."

Find the campaign to help Bailey's daughter at gofundme.com/f/needs-as-they-arise.

Find the campaign for Williams' medical expenses at gofundme.com/f/agtuy9-help-rebecca-recover.

Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.