8-Year-Old Girl and 2 Men Dead After Stolen Truck Collides Head-on with SUV in Arizona

Mar. 15, 2025

Image of the crash in Mesa, Ariz.Photo:12 News/YouTube

12 News/YouTube

An Arizona community is in mourning after a young girl and two men died in a three-vehicle crash involving a stolen car last week.

Police said that the car collided head-on with a Nissan Armada moving south in the median lane. A third car, which was behind the Nissan, was also involved.

The driver of the Nissan, identified as Troy Garlock, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Garlock’s daughters, 8-year-old Elsie and 6-year-old Mabel, were sitting in the back seat at the time of the crash, per aGoFundMestarted on behalf of the family.

“The 8-year-old was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The 6-year-old is being treated for injuries,” police said.

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“[Garlock] was a man of unwavering love, strength and dedication, always putting his family first, having fun with his kids, and leading with kindness and compassion,” the family wrote on the fundraising page.

Troy and Elsie Garlock.GoFundMe

GoFundMe

“His child, full of innocence and joy, loved to dance, brought light to every room and touched the hearts of all who knew them. Their bond was unbreakable, their love immeasurable, and their absence leaves a void that can never be filled,” the fundraiser message continued. “Though their time with us was tragically cut short, their love, laughter, and memories will live on forever in our hearts.”

The family also wrote that 6-year-old Mabel is recovering at home after surgery “with many broken bones.”

According to theArizona Republic,Garlock was a husband, brother and father to nine children. Elsie was a passionate dancer at a local dance studio, CanDance, whichwrote on social mediathat she “was a star and there wasn’t a room or stage she didn’t brighten up with her presence. She made all those who stood around her brighter.”

“Elsie was a child of God, a daughter, granddaughter, team mate, friend and so much more. We will miss her tremendously. We always thought we had more time and would see her again,” the dance studio wrote. “Life is not to be taken for granted, and this has been an unimaginable reminder of that.”

Services for the father and daughter will be held on Feb. 15, according to the GoFundMe.

source: people.com