The crash happened Saturday afternoon, May 14, when Garrett was crossing over Iron Branch Road to pick up two baseballs. Delaware State Police say Garrett darted out into the roadway, and failed to see a van traveling northbound. Troopers say Garrett was struck by the front bumper of the van in the northbound lane of Iron Branch Road, and was knocked to the ground.
Garrett was taken to Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. where he was listed in “critical but serious” condition.
The driver of the van, 54-year-old John C. Swift, was reportedly not injured in the crash, but police say alcohol appears to have been a factor on his behalf. He was arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Now, more then a week and a half after the tragedy, the community is doing everything it can to show its support for Garrett and his family.
Garrett’s baseball coach Josh Wharton, who is also a close friend of the child’s family, said he knew something had to be done to help Garrett and his mother. It was just in November that Garrett’s father passed away.
In order to help, Wharton has started posting on Facebook about the need to raise funds for Garrett’s family. He has called on community members to donate gift cards to the family, so that they can pay for travel and eating expenses while staying with Garrett at the Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington.
What has been the response so far? An overwhelming show of support from local Little League baseball teams, the community, as well as state and business leaders who have taken to social media to post photos of support for Garrett with the hashtag #gmoneystrong (G-Money is Garrett’s nickname).
Garrett’s crash and its aftermath have also drawn national attention with NCAA and MLB teams and players rallying behind him.
New York Mets MiLB player Derrik Gibson, who graduated from Seaford High School, showed his support, as well as players with the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. And University of Delaware alum, and 2015 WNBA MVP Elle Delle Donne, also took to social media to show her support!
Click here to view a full album on WBOC’s Facebook of all the local teams and community members showing their support for Garrett.
A fundraiser to support Garrett’s family is slated for Saturday, June 4 at the Millsboro Little League grounds at 262 W. State St. The event will feature family-friendly events all day including kids’ games. Hockers BBQ will be serving food starting at 11 a.m. and the Dirt Road Outlawz will be performing in the evening.
A corvette has been donated to the Good Ole Boys Foundation in Sussex County to raffle off at the event on June 4 as well. Eddie and Gail Ober Lambden donated the 1919 corvette and Wharton was blown away once again by the amount of support from the community for Garrett and posted this on his Facebook page:
“Since the accident we all have been blown away for support for Garrett, and we all are very proud to call this place home right now. Here is another example of how the people who live right next door to you guys are just flat out amazing. This 1979 Corvette has been donated to the GOBF by Eddie and Gail Ober Lambden, and will be raffled off starting June 4, and ALL proceeds will be for G-money and his family for their journey. There truly is no place better to live than right here in good ole Sussex. It’s a real honor and privilege to call you guys neighbors. Eddie and Gail, thank you so much. You both are some of the most selfless ppl we know. #gmoneystrong ”
All of the proceeds from the car will go to Garrett Rogers’ family.
Sportz Tees of Laurel created a fundraiser of its own to help out the family. Owner Chris Otwell, who was a close friend of Garrett’s father, is creating shirts to be sold for $15 each. All of the proceeds from the T-shirt sales will go to Garrett’s family. In order to buy a shirt, you can email Otwell at sportztees@gmail.com .
Drop-off locations for Garrett’s family can be found at the Millsboro Little League Park and at the Millsboro Daycare.
