Rally for Ashlee’s Totaled Car

Hi friends!

I decided to create a GoFundMe because if you know Ashlee Cross, then she has, without a doubt in my mind, positively impacted your life or your child’s life. “Ms. Cross” is the most giving, selfless and loving mama, teacher, friend, sister, and everything else she is.

Ashlee and I were bartending the Basecamp Fest in Reno on July 29, and were in a car accident on our way home. Heading southbound on 580, right after the Mt. Rose highway exit, we came around a bend when Ashlee yelled, “oh my god, a bear!!” and within 1-2 seconds, the airbags had deployed and her car was totaled. We assessed ourselves, asked 100 times if we could feel everything, if we were okay, if we were hurt, every version of “did we survive this?” possible, called for help, and tried opening windows and doors to get ventilation into the car. (The explosives from the airbags mixed with the talcum powder creates a horrible smell/smoke and makes it hard to breath)

NHP arrived and confirmed the bear had died, and said it was easily 2-3 feet taller than any of us. It was huge. As Ashlee was getting items from her vehicle preparing for it to be towed, NHP told me that any other response, and this would have likely been a very different outcome. Ash knew not to overcorrect, not to swerve, and that the smartest choice was to hit the bear head on. There was no other option. And I believe wholeheartedly that her reaction to the situation saved our lives. The car is replaceable, Ashlee’s friendship and impact on her community is not. And I am so incredibly thankful that we were able to walk away from this, with just some scratches and soreness.

Which leads me to why I have created a gofundme, that she would never in a million years do or ask for and we all know that. Which makes me want to do this for her even more. Ashlee is the best kind of person. She is the teacher that provides snacks, personal hygiene items, will see a need and meet a need, no matter what it requires. She has literally given the shirt off her back. As you can imagine, there is so much headache involved with a car accident, especially when your car is totaled, and we don’t even know what this is going to look like considering it was vs an animal. Between a deductible, a rental car, fuel increase if it doesn’t have the same mpg, interest rates and prices for cars right now, the potential of insurance not covering in full- all of the other possibilities and what ifs, this will be a stress and burden I do not want her to bear alone.

We are physically okay, I would even say good. To make some light of it, we laughed because we are in our 30’s and bartended for 11 hours straight- so was it that or the accident causing the soreness? ☺️ I am deeply, deeply thankful we are okay and walked away essentially unharmed. I want her to be okay in every way possible.

I considered waiting to create this until she had more information about what would come next with the claim, rental car, replacing the vehicle, etc. but I want to rally for Ashlee. She has faced one challenge after another with grace, light, and a continuous outpouring of love to everyone around her. She deserves one less headache. She deserves to be loved on in this tangible way. Let’s do this!

Love, light, and gratitude,

Teryn