Pictured: Passionate rodeo rider and ‘beloved’ softball coach killed in Alabama river boat collision

  • Boats collided on the Black Warrior River in Moundville, west-central Alabama 
  • Richard Glover, of Akron, and Destiny Graben, 23, of Northport, were killed
  • Alabama Law Enforcement’s marine patrol unit is investigating the crash

By Debbie White For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

‘Devastated’ family and friends have paid tribute to the two victims of a fatal boat collision in Alabama, describing them as a passionate rodeo rider and a ‘beloved’ softball coach.

Richard Glover, 46, of Akron, and Destiny Graben, 23, from Northport, were killed and at least three others injured in the July 4 crash on the Black Warrior River in Moundville.

They were passengers on two separate boats, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) marine patrol unit told CBS 24.

Destiny Graben, 23, from Northport
Richard Glover, 46, of Akron

Destiny Graben, 23, from Northport, and Richard Glover, 46, of Akron, were killed and at least three others injured in the July 4 crash on the Black Warrior River in Moundville, Alabama

One of the boats involved in the collision, above

One of the boats involved in the collision, above

Graben, who had a passion for horses, loved competing in barrel races with her horse, Dixie.

One of her friends, Jamie Burroughs, said that when competing in the rodeo, Graben would make sure ‘my hair was done good and my makeup looked good, because I’m not good at that’.

Another pal, Angela Hudson, said that she and her friends were heartbroken about her death: ‘It’s senseless. It’s hard. I think I can pretty much speak for everybody, we’re shocked.’

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by ALEA's marine patrol unit 

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by ALEA's marine patrol unit 

The boat crash victim’s father died about six months ago, which was hard for her, Hudson added.

Jerry Glover, Richard Glover’s uncle, paid tribute to his hard-working nephew, who was described as a ‘beloved softball coach from Hale County High School’.

He added: ‘We’re hurting now but we’re so thankful we had him when we had him.’

First responders worked during the night to transport the bodies of the man and woman, who were killed in the fatal collision on Black Warrior River (above), Alabama

First responders worked during the night to transport the bodies of the man and woman, who were killed in the fatal collision on Black Warrior River (above), Alabama

Jerry Glover said that his nephew worked hard, growing a successful golf cart business, but always ‘put family first’.

Karen Glover said Richard’s mother is ‘quite broken’ as it ‘was hard to believe this has happened, that one minute he’s here, and the next minute you hear he’s gone. Just devastating.’

Sgt Walter Lacey, speaking on behalf of ALEA, told a press conference that six people had been travelling in one boat, and two were in the other at the time of the fatal collision, about four miles (6.44km) south of the boat landing in Moundville.

No one on board either vessel was wearing safety vests. 

The drivers of both vessels were given sobriety tests after the crash, which occurred at 5.30pm on July 4. 

First responders worked through the night to transport the bodies to shore, with the names of the two victims released by Hale County Coroner Howard Paige late yesterday.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by ALEA's marine patrol unit.  

Video courtesy of ABC3340


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