GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A mother of two has been in a permanent vegetative state after a horrific mishap at a go-cart track nearly four years ago.
Since then, her family has made it their mission to make sure no one else suffers this kind of tragedy. Now, there is proposed legislation that could make a difference.
Rachel Gibbs’ life effectively ended in 2015 after she visited AJ’s Family Fun Center in Comstock Park with her two young sons, 5 and 7.
She was in town visiting her parents and they decided to bring the boys to AJs. Gibbs was wearing a scarf, which got caught up in the mechanics of the go-kart. She was choked, and the air cut off to her brain long enough to cause extensive damage.
She is now in a long-term care facility in England. She cannot move, talk or even feed herself. Before the accident, she worked as a photo editor for the Discovery Channel, BBC, Getty Images and others.
“So we see her, we talk to her, and we pray,” said Gibbs’ father, Denis Kluba.
The family filed a suit claiming AJs should have made sure that customers did not have items that could get caught and should have had emergency procedures in place.
“I know that accidents are accidents, you can’t prevent them all, but this one could have been prevented,” said Karen Kluba, Gibbs’ mother.
AJ’s never admitted fault, but they did pay out more than $1 million in a lawsuit.
Her family, especially her sister, Corri Sandwick, has been working to make changes. That is on the cusp of happening with a trio of bills that will get first reading this week in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Lowell Republican Thomas Albert introduced the measure. The bills would create a system based on one used in North Carolina, which compels amusement providers to participate in a program that gives them a gold star certification.
Read more of this and other stories on WOODTV.com