The Mesa community is mourning the loss of a father and his young daughter following a fatal crash involving a stolen vehicle on Monday morning. Troy Garlock, 42, and his 8-year-old daughter Elsie were killed when their Nissan Armada was struck head-on by a stolen Ford F-250, which was driving at a high speed on Val Vista Drive and then entered the median lane, ultimately causing the collision at around 7:55 a.m, near Val Vista Drive and Southern Avenue, according to KTAR News. Garlock, who was driving the Armada with two of his daughters inside, died at the scene, as did the driver of the stolen truck, identified as 29-year-old Damarya Zyberi.
Elsie's passion for dance and her impact on her dance community has been highlighted in the wake of the incident; she was described as a child who would "light up any room, any stage you went into" by Chris Zuehlke, owner of Candance Studios, in a statement to FOX 10 Phoenix. The girl's talent and passion for dancing were reflected in her achievements, including a placement at nationals last year.
Mabel, Elsie's 6-year-old sister, survived the crash but suffered numerous broken bones and has since undergone surgery. The Garlock family has since launched a GoFundMe page to help cover medical and funeral expenses, already raising over $80,000, a roadside memorial has been set up by the community in memory of the victims, with stuffed animals and other items of remembrance left by individuals, including one by a bystander named Jessica Byrne who saw the aftermath and felt compelled to contribute to the impromptu shrine, she was particularly struck by "the severity of the Nissan that Troy and Elsie were in" and a stuffed animal dog lying in the road, she told FOX 10 Phoenix.
Another vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was caught up in the incident, with the driver sustaining minor injuries but not requiring hospitalization.
