Columbus, Ind. — A 15-year-old Columbus East High School student has died after being struck by a vehicle he had been in and was trying to re-enter, police said.
Abbott F. Garn was struck about 9:30 p.m. Saturday by a sport-utility vehicle in the 2500 block of Franklin Street and died about midnight at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, said Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.
Garn was taken by LifeLine medical helicopter to the Indianapolis hospital, where he died from his injuries, Harris said.
Garn, a sophomore, was an honor student and a member of the Columbus East Olympians football and baseball teams.
Columbus East Principal Mark Newell said he is encouraging students who need assistance dealing with the loss of their classmate to gather at 7:15 a.m. Monday in the high school’s auxiliary gym, where school guidance counselors will be available to assist.
Larry Perkinson, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s employee and student assistance coordinator, will also be available for any of Columbus East’s 1,550 students or school staff, Newell said.
Students who need additional time to talk will be allowed to stay in the gym as long as necessary, said Newell, who was notifying Garn’s teachers at Columbus East of the tragedy.
For more details, see Monday’s edition of The Republic.
