When Kurt Simpson received a text saying his family’s belongings were scattered along a Nebraska highway, he assumed it was a scam. Unfortunately, it was all too real.
In July, Simpson, his wife, and their three children packed up decades’ worth of possessions into a freight trailer for their move from Utah to Florida. But hundreds of miles into the journey, the load crashed, according to FOX affiliate KSTU, ABC affiliate KLKN, and CBS affiliate KUTV.
“It’s literally like a tornado took all of our belongings, ripped it all up, and dumped it right out,” Simpson told KUTV.
Around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, the Nebraska State Patrol responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 391, according to a statement to PEOPLE.
Investigators determined a semi-truck pulling tandem trailers hydroplaned, causing the driver to lose control and jackknife. The second trailer ended up hanging over a bridge guardrail above a creek bed. No one was injured, but the eastbound lane of the highway was closed for over an hour.
Instead of hearing from the moving company, SureMove, Simpson first got a text from a Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) employee who had found his suitcase on the roadside, tagged with his name.
“The worst part is how I found out,” Simpson said. “Initially I thought [the text] was a scam.”
SureMove later confirmed the crash and assured the family the driver was safe. But according to Simpson, little other information was provided.
“A manager called us and confirmed there had been an accident,” Simpson told KSTU. “They didn’t tell us how severe it was.”
In a statement to KLKN, SureMove expressed sympathy for the family, saying the incident remains under investigation by the Nebraska State Police. “We have stayed in steady contact with the family since the incident, sharing what we know,” the company said.
A friend has since launched a GoFundMe to help the Simpsons recover from the loss of what they believe may be nearly all of their belongings. Among the items gone are valuable possessions and irreplaceable family photos.
“Kurt coached a lot of our sons in football and basketball,” the organizer wrote. “Amy was the greatest team mom, friend, board member, and human!”
Simpson’s son, Dominic Chidester, shared that NDOT sent the family images showing their belongings scattered in a ravine below the bridge. “A lot of it is likely damaged or gone completely,” he wrote on Aug. 2.
His parents drove to Nebraska to see the wreckage and are now working with a salvage company to recover whatever is still usable, KSTU reported.
Despite the devastating setback, the family says they are overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown by their community.
“Thank you again for all the support, love, and kindness,” Dominic wrote on the GoFundMe page. “It means the world to us right now.”
