Stefanie is the daughter of Mike and Cheryl McGovern. Her grandmother, Jeanette Podell, said Friday that classmates and teammates from WCHS have visited Stefanie at the hospital and now at home to support her and her family. McGovern is active in athletics and 4-H, among other activities.
The accident occurred about 3 p.m., Dec. 27, at SR 17 and CR 200 N, just north of Logansport. Cass County police reports indicate a westbound 2006 Pontiac, driven by McGovern, failed to yield the right-of-way at the stop sign on CR 200 N and was struck by a 1997 Chevy full-size pickup truck driven by Walter Denaut II, 30, of Avon. He was southbound on SR 17.
The collision occurred in the middle of the intersection, where the truck struck the front passenger side of the car. The force of the crash sent the car into a utility pole which snapped upon impact.
Gibson was pronounced dead at Logansport Memorial Hospital. McGovern was Life-Lined to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Police report Denaut sustained non-life threatening wounds to his head and hands. His son Conner, 3, was not injured.
Emergency personnel responding to the accident found the teenage girls trapped in their vehicle. Logansport firefighters used hydraulic cutting tools to free the victims from the wreckage. Cass County EMS transported the girls to LMH, where Gibson was later pronounced dead at 4:11 p.m. Denaut and his son were also taken to the hospital and later released.
The funeral for Miss Gibson, a 2010 graduate of Winamac Community High School, was held Jan. 2, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. She is the daughter of Lori Pavy of Star City and Darvin Gibson of Salyersville, KY. She was a student at Ivy Tech, Lafayette.
Among those investigating the accident are Cass County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Swartzell, Sgt. Pat Zeider, Major Mike Day and Deputy Mike Shannon. Assisting them were the Logansport Fire Department, Logansport utilities and the Indiana State Police.
Initial police reports have ruled out weather as a factor.
The accident remains under investigation.
