A quiet Monday evening turned tragic for the community of LaSalle Township, Michigan, when a two-vehicle collision on South Telegraph Road (U.S. 24) around 5:28 p.m. claimed the life of 19-year-old Abbigal Garbers of Morenci and left the other driver fighting for his life.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Garbers was driving a gray 2010 Toyota Corolla northbound when, for reasons still under investigation, her vehicle crossed the centerline and drifted into the southbound lane. That’s where the head-on collision occurred with a gray 2015 Hyundai Sonata driven by 35-year-old Palmer G. Merkel of Temperance. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage, scattered across the roadway, and debris laid across multiple lanes.
Emergency crews arrived quickly and found both drivers critically injured. Garbers was taken to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where she later died. Merkel was transported to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, and remains in serious condition. The sheriff’s office confirmed that both drivers were wearing their seat belts — a reminder that even with safety measures the impact of a head-on collision can be tragic.
Multiple agencies converged on the scene: the LaSalle Township Volunteer Fire Department, Monroe Community Ambulance, and the Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Program along with its Victim Services Unit all supported the rescue, medical aid, traffic control, and emotional care of families. The roadway remained closed for a significant time while investigators and responders cleared the wreckage.
Investigators are treating driver inattention as a possible contributing factor, though they caution the full inquiry is still underway. Physical evidence — vehicle positioning, debris patterns — along with data from the vehicles and witness statements are being collected. The community is asked to assist: if you were in the area and saw anything, you’re urged to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Services Division at 734-240-7548, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 800-SPEAK-UP.
In the wake of the crash, the sheriff’s office offered heartfelt condolences to Garbers’ family, acknowledging the profound grief they must be facing. The entire region has been shaken by the loss of such a young life in this senseless moment. Police reminded drivers how quickly a moment of inattention can become irreversible.
As the investigation proceeds, the families of both drivers remain in the thoughts of officials and neighbors alike. This tragedy underscores the importance of alertness, safe driving, and the stark reality that even routine road travel can change lives in an instant.
