Teacher's death leaves friends stunned

Family and friends are still trying to cope with the death of teacher Kimberly Bryant, a Folsom resident who was killed in a fatal car accident Jan. 28.Bryant's memorial service was held Saturday in Folsom.She was the mother of two daughters, Morgan, 20, and Danielle, 18.Bryant, 45, was a third-grade teacher at Indian Creek Elementary School in Placerville for 14 years, said Tim Smith, superintendent of Mother Lode School District."We are certainly in shock that Kim died without expectation. We couldn't prepare for this," Smith said. "We are feeling shock and sadness. Our staff is struggling, definitely."He said Bryant was a very dedicated teacher and was working late, until 5:30 p.m., the night of her fatal accident.He said over the weekend, district staff called parents of Bryant's young students to invite them to attend class with their children on Monday. Most of the parents attended class, Smith said."We also had El Dorado County of Education counselors (and) the County Department of Mental Health … support come out," Smith said. "That really helped the healing begin. It's going to be a rough time. We will not heal from this for a long time. Like anything else, healing takes time."Debra Jones, 49, of Folsom used to carpool with Danielle and Bryant for basketball practice."I knew her as a basketball mom," Jones said. "My daughter's first thought (when hearing the news) was the girls. They were all so close."Jones said while driving home Friday night, she saw the accident, but had no idea it involved a friend."I drove by the accident that night and saw the lights and knew it must have been a fatality," Jones said. "Then I read the Telegraph story Wednesday morning and saw it was someone I knew. I was just heartbroken. I couldn't believe it."She said she lived around the corner from Bryant and lost touch after their daughters graduated."She was a basketball mom, it's so sad to see this happen and it makes you see how fast things can change," Jones said. "She was such a committed and involved mom to her daughters."Jones said the news of the accident also sends an important message."She wasn't a reckless person, she was a cautious mom," Jones said. "So to see her life end in such a reckless manner is devastating."Bryant was killed when the car she was riding in slid out of control, rolled over a couple of times and hit a tree Friday night on Folsom Boulevard, near Blue Ravine Road, in Folsom. Bryant was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, James Beckwith, 52, of Rancho Cordova, was hospitalized with serious injuries.At the scene, officers found the driver sitting in the center divide near a severely damaged two-door Pontiac Grand Prix, said Sgt. Chris Emery with the Folsom Police Department.The injured driver, who was allegedly conscious and alert, asked officers to provide aid to his girlfriend, who was still inside the vehicle, Emery said.Inside the Pontiac, paramedics said they found Bryant improperly strapped in her seat belt."Due to the damage of the vehicle, it does seem that speed was a factor in the collision," Emery said. "Also, officers (allegedly) noted an odor of alcohol coming from the driver as he was being transported to the hospital." Witnesses told investigators the vehicle sped away from the traffic signal at Folsom Boulevard and Blue Ravine Road, lost control, and spun twice before leaving the paved roadway, Emery said.Police are waiting for toxicology results to determine whether the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol. No charges have been filed at this time, Emery said.