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Keesha Ivey, Kholson Ivey and Sandy Reed pictured in Wildcats blue and gold. Courtesy/Vicki Pickel
Supporters from Yantis to Cooper are finding themselves standing together as the Sulphur Springs community mourns the loss of two beloved Sulphur Springs moms who died late Friday night in a tragic automobile accident in Van Zandt County.
Sandy Reed, 37, and her sister, Keesha Ivey, were on their way home from the Wildcats football game in Forney with their children, Kaycee Ivey, 14, and Jacob Reed, 9, when the women were killed in a head-on automobile accident in Van Zandt County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The children sustained serious injuries and were flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, and their conditions were reported to be much improved Monday according to family members’ Facebook posts.
DPS reports that a Chevy Silverado pickup, driven by William Ivey, 51, of Trinidad, drove on the wrong side of the road. The truck struck another vehicle before it veered into the northbound lane, colliding head-on with the Reed/Ivey vehicle. William Ivey and the other driver were both transported to the hospital for treatment.
Within hours, a GoFundMe account was set up on behalf of the families and donations were already pouring in. As of Monday, Oct. 7, more than $16,000 of the $20,000 goal had been raised.
Local restaurants announced via social media that a percentage of the proceeds from their Saturday evening totals would be donated to the families. Additional donations from proceeds will be made during this week and in the weeks to come as well.
Several other Sulphur Springs businesses are also collecting donations and will be donating a percentage of their proceeds, according to social media.
Facebook posts from surrounding school districts encouraged students and staff to wear blue and gold Monday in support of Sulphur Springs ISD and announced that donations to the families would be accepted.
On Sunday afternoon, more than 200 people attended a prayer vigil at Lamar Primary School, where Jacob Reed is a student.
An account for donations was to be opened at Guaranty Bank on Monday.
The Sulphur Springs High School Class of 2021 will donate 50% of the proceeds from their second annual Gold Out fundraiser to the families, according to class secretary Cheyenne Fouse. Sandy Reed’s son Micah, who passed away from cancer in 2016, was a member of the class, Fouse said. The survivors of the 2019 accident will also be honored at Friday’s pep rally. (For more information on the Gold Out fundraiser, please see Gold Out related story.)
The family has announced that visitation for Ivey and Reed will be held Thursday, Oct. 10, from 12-2 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center with funeral services to follow.
To donate to the Go Fund Me account, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/keesha-and-sandy.
Reporter Taylor Nye contributed to this report.