Caleb Geiger ‘had a childlike faith in The Lord’
Eight-year-old Caleb Geiger of Montana was killed in a four-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29 near the Tracy exit, north of Platte City.
The fatal collision occurred as traffic was slowing for construction at the Tracy exit, at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.
The Missouri Department of Transportation had reduced northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 29 down to one lane at the intersection of the Route 273 Bridge (Exit 20 at Tracy) for bridge demolition work over the weekend.
“Our lives will never be the same,” John Geiger wrote on Facebook Sunday. “Last night at about 6 pm our hearts were crushed when we received the news that our kids were in a terrible car accident with their Mimi and Papa. Emery, Mimi, and Papa are banged up but all okay. Our beautiful son Caleb did not survive.”
John and his wife, Melissa, live in Billings, Montana.
Their six-year-old daughter, Emery, sustained moderate injuries in the crash.
According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Cherlyn McWhirth, 39, of Raymore, failed to stop her 2014 Ford Explorer, crashing into the rear of a 2012 Toyota Prius carrying John Cosgrove, 63, and Ruth Cosgrove, 61, of St. Louis, and their two grandchildren, Caleb and Emery, of Billings, Montana.
The rear-end collision forced the Prius into a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Brandon Barber, 34, of St. Joseph, which then struck a Ford F-150.
According to the Highway Patrol crash report, Battalion Chief Brett Lemons of the Northland Regional Ambulance District pronounced Caleb dead at the scene.
“While the grieving process will likely never end, Melissa and I stand firm knowing that this amazing boy had a childlike faith in The Lord that far surpasses our own. We’ll keep walking forward knowing that …God is still good, and that we will be with our son again one day,” wrote John.
John Cosgrove, of St. Louis, was transported to the North Kansas City Hospital, to be treated for serious injuries. Ruth and Emery were transported to the Mosaic Medical Center in St. Joseph.
The Geigers said they are humbled by the “amazing outpouring of love and care” from their faith family. John Geiger asked for prayer as they traveled to Kansas City to be with Emery and Melissa’s parents, and “navigate this unknown road. Pray for Emery as we tell her about her brother’s passing,” wrote John Geiger in a Facebook post.
According to the crash report, all occupants and drivers were wearing a seatbelt.
The collision is being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.