Fort Wayne’s tight‑knit community is grappling with heartbreak after 17‑year‑old Bay Lar lost his life in a serious two‑car collision Thursday night at the busy crossroads of South Anthony Boulevard and Gardendale Avenue. The tragedy unfolded just before 10 p.m., leaving four young people hurt and one family devastated.
Police and first responders rushed to the scene after reports of a violent crash involving two vehicles. Early accounts from the Fort Wayne Police Department describe one car heading north on Anthony while the other came from the south. Officers say the southbound driver was turning onto Gardendale when the two vehicles slammed into each other.
All four people in the crash were quickly loaded into ambulances and taken to a nearby hospital. Bay Lar, who was under 18 at the time, was in life‑threatening condition and later died from his injuries at the hospital. The other three are being treated, with at least one listed in serious but stable condition.
Investigators with the Fort Wayne Fatal Accident Crash Team, supported by the police air unit and the Allen County Coroner’s Office, spent hours combing through the wreckage and piecing together what happened. They’re working to understand exactly how this collision unfolded and whether speed, distraction, or other factors played a role. That inquiry is still underway.
Friends and neighbors describe Bay Lar as full of life, someone who lit up a room and had so much promise ahead of him. For many in this city, that image contrasts painfully with the stark reality of an empty chair at the dinner table and a community mourning a young life cut short too soon.
The Fort Wayne Police Department is urging anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant video to reach out. Tips from the public often prove vital in helping investigators fill in missing pieces and bring clarity to tragic scenes like this one.
In the days since the collision, memorials have sprung up near the site and on social media, with local residents sending their condolences and holding Bay Lar’s loved ones close in thought. The pain is real, and the sense of loss is shared across schools, neighborhoods, and families who knew him.
As the city reflects on this young life lost too soon, the message from many remains the same: cherish every moment, slow down on our streets, and look out for one another, because the ripple effects of one night’s events will be felt here for a long time.
