Beloved Coach’s Death Sparks Outrage: ‘The State Failed Her When She Needed It Most

On a cold January morning, Sarah Lischwe did what so many of us do without thinking — she got in her car and headed out to work. But that ordinary drive turned tragic when her vehicle broke down on a snow-slicked stretch of Interstate 44 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sarah never made it to her destination. She never made it home.

Now, her grieving husband is demanding answers — and accountability — from the very agency that was supposed to keep that road safe.

“She Did Everything Right”

Sarah was 38 years old. A passionate, dedicated water polo coach at McKendree University, she led both the men’s and women’s teams with heart, drive, and a fierce belief in her students. She wasn’t just a coach — she was a mentor, a role model, and a source of steady guidance for countless young athletes.

That morning, Sarah’s car began having problems while driving along Interstate 44, near the Vandeventer Avenue overpass. She turned on her hazard lights and looked for a safe place to pull over. But the shoulder of the road — the place that’s meant to be a refuge in emergencies — was buried in snow.

There was nowhere to go.

With no safe option, she stopped as far to the side as she could. Moments later, a semi-truck traveling at highway speed slammed into her car, sending it over the edge of the overpass.

Sarah died at the scene. The injuries were catastrophic. Her life ended not because of her own mistake, but because the shoulder hadn’t been plowed — something that, according to a new lawsuit, the state had a clear duty to do.

A Widow’s Pain and a Community in Mourning

Her husband, Casey Colgan, is now seeking justice — not just for Sarah, but to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

In a lawsuit filed against the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC), Casey says the state’s failure to follow its own snow-clearing guidelines created the conditions that led to Sarah’s death. The shoulder, he argues, should have been cleared — and had it been, Sarah would have been able to pull over safely and live to see another day.

“She had no chance,” he said. “She did everything right. She slowed down. She pulled over. But the state didn’t hold up its end. She deserved better.”

More Than a Statistic

The loss sent shockwaves through the McKendree community. Sarah wasn’t just a figurehead — she was hands-on, fiercely involved, and always present.

Former students describe her as “tough, honest, and deeply kind.” She built people up. She pushed them to grow. She showed up for them.

And now, they’re showing up for her. A GoFundMe page set up in her honor raised more than $100,000 to help support her family and celebrate the life she lived so fully.

One Moment, and a Life Is Gone

The lawsuit isn’t just about money. It’s about a system that failed someone who trusted it. It’s about a shoulder that should have been clear. It’s about what happens when a simple duty — clearing a path for those in distress — is overlooked.

For Casey, it’s about honoring the woman he loved. “She was my whole world,” he said. “She was a fighter, a leader. She deserved more than to die on the side of the road because someone didn’t clear the snow.”