Loyal Heights Elementary School student killed in Montana car crash

Update: There will be a memorial service next Saturday (August 18) for Jacob. Here is a message from Mrs. Ware, Loyal Heights 2nd Grade Teacher:

Dear Loyal Heights Families,

As some of you may know by now, one of our students lost his life in a car crash this past weekend. Jacob Gamble was a second grade student in Bungalow Three this past year. One other person in the car sustained injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Our community joins Jacob’s family in grieving for their loss.

A memorial service (suitable for children) will be held at Ballard First Lutheran Church, 2006 NW 65th St., Saturday, August 18th at 1 pm, with refreshments to follow in the church basement.

…In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Jacob’s name to the Seattle Animal Shelter,http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/. There may be more specific information to follow on memorial contributions and the steps for making a named contribution.

Jacob’s little brother, Eli, will be starting kindergarten this fall. As the new school year approaches, there will be other needs. Again, please keep a watch for our LHPTA emails. If you have any questions, you can contact me. ~Mrs. Ware, maware@seattleschools.org

Original post: An 8-year-0ld boy who was a student at Loyal Heights Elementary was killed last weekend in a car crash caused by a drunk driver in Montana. Jacob Gamble’s parents, Dan Klabunde and Charlotte Gamble, and 5-year-old brother Eli survived the crash. However, Klabunde was seriously injured and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

According to the Billings Gazette, the family was driving through the night to Yellowstone for a family trip when Daniel Martin, who was driving in a stolen vehicle the wrong way down Interstate 90, struck their Honda. Martin also died at the scene.

Ballard woman Erin Bogart, whose son was a student with Jacob, says many families in Ballard have been contacting one another about the news, and are trying to find ways to help the family.

One of the family’s dogs, Bella went missing directly after the crash, and a large search effort is out trying to find her. This Facebook page has also been created to help the effort.