ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) – The Allen County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a crash that left a Carroll High School student dead Saturday.

The crash happened near the intersection of Coldwater Road and Watervale Cove.

The Allen County Coroner identified the teenager Tuesday as 17-year-old Jackson Garton.

In a statement sent to WANE 15, a Northwest Allen County Schools spokeswoman said:

Northwest Allen County Schools has officially notified our school community this evening about the unfortunate passing of one of our students, Jackson Garton, on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

We understand the significance of such news and its impact on the broader community. As an institution committed to transparency and communication, we wanted to ensure that our students, faculty, and staff were informed in a timely and compassionate manner.

Kristen Valdez, Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives

Police responded to the crash around 10:30 that night. A preliminary investigation indicates an SUV was northbound on Coldwater when a southbound car driven by Garton swerved into the direction of the SUV for an unknown reason, according to Sgt. Adam Griffith with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department.

The SUV and car collided, said Sgt. Griffith. Medics pronounced Garton dead at the scene. Medics transported the driver of the SUV to a hospital with minor injuries. A passenger in the SUV did not suffer any injuries, Sgt. Griffith said.

The coroner determined the cause of Garton’s death was multiple blunt force injuries from the crash, and his death was ruled an accident.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the Garton family cover funeral costs.

*WANE.com does not assure that the monies or donations deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a donation, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

Correction: A previous version of the story indicated the SUV swerved in the direction of the car. It has been corrected to indicate the car swerved into the SUV, according to an Allen County Sheriff’s Department press release.