In a Harrowing incident that shook the quiet rural roads of Warren County, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White emerged unscathed from a fatal multi-vehicle collision on State Road 28 near West Lebanon on Thursday evening. The crash, which made multiple victims hospitalized and two local residents, has left authorities scrambling to piece together the tragic sequence of events.
According to Indiana State Police, the accident unfolded around 7:45 p.m. when White’s black SUV, traveling eastbound, was rear-ended by a pickup truck hauling construction materials. The impact triggered a chain reaction, sending the truck veering into oncoming traffic and colliding head-on with a sedan carrying a mother and her teenage son. Emergency responders arrived to a scene of twisted metal and shattered glass, with the sedan’s occupants pronounced dead at the site despite frantic life-saving efforts.
White, 47, credited her vehicle’s advanced safety features for her narrow escape. “It was chaos in seconds,” she recounted to reporters at a nearby hospital, where she was briefly evaluated for minor whiplash. “I’m heartbroken for the families involved. This road is no stranger to danger, but tonight was unimaginable.” The former WNBA star and Fever bench boss was en route to a youth coaching clinic in Lafayette when the collision occurred, a trip she described as routine.
The victims were identified as 42-year-old Emily Hargrove and her 16-year-old son, Tyler, both from nearby Williamsport. Hargrove, a schoolteacher, was returning from a parent-teacher conference. The truck driver, a 35-year-old contractor from Attica, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he remains in critical condition. Toxicology reports are pending, but initial investigations point to possible speeding and fatigue as factors.
This stretch of State Road 28, a notorious hotspot for accidents due to its narrow lanes and high truck traffic, has seen three fatalities in the past year alone. Local officials renewed calls for safety upgrades, including wider shoulders and rumble strips. “We can’t keep losing lives like this,” said Warren County Sheriff Dale Martin.
For White, the close call comes amid a triumphant season with the Fever, who clinched a playoff spot under her leadership, thanks in part to rookie sensation Caitlin Clark’s explosive play. Teammates rallied on social media, with Clark posting, “Coach White is tougher than any defender. Praying for everyone affected.” White, known for her resilience—having battled back from a career-ending injury in 2002—vowed to return to practice by Monday.
The WNBA community echoed support, with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issuing a statement: “Our thoughts are with Coach White and the victims’ families. Road safety must be a priority.” As the investigation continues, White’s brush with tragedy serves as a stark reminder of life’s fragility, even for those who coach it on the court.
