Coach Kim Recover After A Horrific Car Accident

Coach Kim was driving back home the night of 2/1/24 from working with her youth climbing team that evening, when she was struck by a drugged-up and uninsured driver who veered onto her side of the road causing a horrific head on crash.

What followed made for a catastrophic and unimaginable set of events, including being hit head-on again by another car, which has led to Kim being left in a state that is going to take a lot of time, effort and money to return to her new “normal”.

Myself (Casey Puccio) and my sister, Alex Puccio, have created this go fund me page to help our mom, Kim recover from such a devastating and unfair accident.

Kim was hit not only by a driver under the influence, but one who was uninsured and, as

a result, leaves Kim with unimaginable costs to cover. Kim had car insurance, but no health insurance.

After Kim was hit by this driver, a passer by tried to help her as her car was now on the other side of the road facing the wrong way. They reached into the car and took the seatbelt off Kim to try and lift her out of the car. At this point, Kim was beaten up as the collision speed was high and the driver who went onto the wrong side of the road, under the influence, was also driving a big truck.

Upon removing the seat belt, the individual trying to help realized another car was heading straight towards them. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to get Kim out of the car, so she was left stranded, alone, beaten up, dazed, in and out of consciousness, and now without a seatbelt-on and airbags that have already deflated.

She was struck head-on again and thrown from her seat all around her smashed up Subaru Forester.

The results were truly horrifying. Kim was left with a list of injuries that would be bad if they were spread out over a lifetime, let alone one incident. To top this off, unfortunately Kim has no health insurance.

Kim was rushed to the hospital by paramedics and here is the list of her Injuries:

-Right Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)

-Right Hemothorax, (Internal bleeding behind the lung causing pressure that is preventing inflation)

-4 Fractured ribs (right side)

-Fracture to Right Shoulder (coracoid fracture)

-Fracture to Right Hand

-Compound Fractures to right forearm bones, “Ulnar and Radius bones” (surgery required, 2 metal plates and 4 metal screws to repair)

-Fracture to Left wrist

-Traumatic tearing of the right Lateral Abdominal wall musculature ( Will need Surgery to repair in 3-4 months.)

-Large Hernia to right lower back with colon displacement (Will need surgery in 2-3 months to repair)

-Traumatic Head Laceration from middle of forehead all the way into her right side hairline, leaving her with a large facial scar after healing

-Nasal Bone fracture (broken nose)

Kim is now left with months of rehab. Although she is still in the ICU now, she will then move to a list of other hospitals and rehabilitation units. She will have to go to a live-in rehab facility after her hospital stay for an unknown amount of time, followed by out-patient rehab 3-4 x a week for the months that follow.

She cannot drive, cannot make food, perform the very basic and personal tasks we all take for granted. Getting dressed, going to the toilet, washing etc.

Kim wants, desperately, to get back to work as soon as she can, and when that time comes, will of course, have to be driven to and from her home.

Eventually, when Kim has gone through the series of her surgeries and rehabilitation, she will then have to get a new car and start the process of mentally addressing and overcoming what has happened, probably haunting her on every drive she will hopefully embark on!

Kim has been a climbing coach for nearly 20 years and has coached some of America’s best climbers. Coaching is truly one of her biggest passions in life. It gives her pleasure helping others. Over the years, she has helped thousands of young athletes realize their passion, purpose and focus.

She is with her team four times a week and travels all over the country supporting her athletes at competitions and on climbing trips.

Kim is beloved in the climbing community and anyone that has had the chance to meet her would say that her passion and dedication for the sport shines brightly.

We want to help Kim get back to what makes her truly happy; her team, work and being surrounded by her climbing family as soon as possible and we really appreciate anything you can do to help us with this goal.