Air Force veteran killed in Glendale motorcycle crash remembered by his family
GLENDALE, Ariz. - On Friday afternoon, a west Valley family's life took a heartbreaking turn when their husband and father, Michael Pabst, died in a motorcycle wreck.
Pabst was riding his motorcycle along Litchfield Road in Glendale when he swerved to avoid a collision and ended up hitting a school bus. Only the bus driver was inside.
Glendale Police say Pabst died from his injuries.
Michael Pabst
His family is working through their grief and figuring out how they'll navigate life without the man they say was the glue of the family.
Pabst was an Air Force veteran and was proud of his country, his family and his love for the Green Bay Packers.
When he didn't reach out to his wife on Sept. 6 to let her know he was on his way home from work, the family became concerned.
His daughter Courtney French heard about a wreck involving a motorcycle and chose to put an ask out on Facebook, though she says she already had a gut feeling that her dad was gone.
"There were a lot of people that reached out and said that it was his bike and I immediately went there because I didn't want to believe it, but I had a weird feeling," French said. "So I got there, immediately spoke to the officer and I gave him my information and I said, 'I think that's my dad.'"
The Pabst family moved to the Valley from the East Coast just a couple of years ago. They say they have been overwhelmed by the support they've received in the past couple of days.
"Any time you were in need, he would help you. He was my biggest supporter. He supported me through all my life events and everything," his daughter said.
As the provider for his wife and a special-needs son, Pabst's death leaves the family with some uncertainty, but they say the community has already shown up for them through a meal train and monetary donations.
"Even after being here for two years, we don't really know anybody, so strangers are reaching out to us, trying to help us. I started a GoFundMe and the amount of support we've gotten … so fast," French said.
As the family processes their grief, they shared a plea for motorcyclists and other drivers in the Valley.
"Make sure you hug your loved ones every time you leave, because you don't know if you're going to make it home, and you want that last memory to be that you said you loved your family members," French said, adding a warning of, "Be aware of your surroundings."
If you'd like to help the family, visit the links below: