Family Honors Fallen Motorcyclist in Tragic Collision with School Bus: A Call to ‘Wear Your Helmet’

Family identifies the man as Michael Pabst.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Michael Pabst is remembered as a proud man. His wife, Lani Pabst, spoke about her husband, a retired veteran and devoted Green Bay Packers fan, who was always there for others.

The Pabst family is mourning the loss of a loving husband, father, and grandfather following a tragic car accident on Friday. His daughter, Courtney French, shared, “He put everybody, everybody, not even just family, above himself.” Pabst was known for his willingness to help anyone in need.

His Harley-Davidson motorcycle was a source of joy for him, but on Friday, it became the catalyst for a family’s worst fear. When he did not return home at his usual time, his family grew concerned.

“He takes the same route every day,” French explained. “He’ll call my mom and say, ‘Hey, I’m on my way home.'” The absence of that call drove French to seek answers on social media, where she discovered news of a nearby motorcycle accident.

Intuition guided her to the crash site near Luke Airforce Base. There, she faced reality. Glendale police reported that Pabst swerved to avoid a collision with another vehicle and was struck by a school bus, resulting in his immediate death.

The family is left seeking closure, questioning whether Pabst felt their love as he passed. “We want to know if he knew going out of this world we loved him,” French said.

In this difficult time, the family finds support within their community. Fundraisers have sprung up to help them navigate their loss. “The amount of support that we’ve gotten from the community is unbearable; it is unbelievable,” French remarked.

They emphasize the importance of sharing affection while there’s still time. Lani urges motorcyclists to wear safety gear for protection. “Even though it doesn’t look cool,” she added. Meanwhile, Mickey Pabst, Michael’s son, reminds drivers to be vigilant and give motorcyclists the space they need.