Michael Grant, 69, of New Albany, drove his 2005 Ford F-350 eastbound on Interstate 265 that Sunday. Up ahead, traffic had stopped because metal rods and fencing debris blocked parts of the roadway near the State Street exit.
A silver 2023 Ford Explorer sat in the right lane. Its driver, John Garber, 48, of Fort Wayne, tried to merge left. Grant’s truck struck the Explorer from behind. The hit killed 14-year-old Abigail Garber, who rode in the back seat.
A 16-year-old in the same back seat went to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville with serious injuries. John Garber had injuries that were not life-threatening. Front-seat passenger Jennifer Garber, 51, had minor injuries. Both were taken to UofL Hospital. Grant himself was not hurt.
Dispatchers first heard about the debris around 5:40 p.m. on August 2. The crash followed soon after. Police closed the eastbound lanes for about three hours while they sorted it out.
The Garber family from Fort Wayne now deals with the loss of their daughter. A fundraiser is running to give them some support during the hard stretch ahead.
Grant continues on without physical injuries from the wreck. The investigation looks at how the stop for debris led to the collision.
Family and friends of Abigail gather what they can of her life and hold it close as they move through the days that follow.
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