Frank Barham, Margaret Kargbo killed in accident during charity journey to Savannah
Tractor trailer struck van carrying Kargbo that was following disability activist
An Atlanta disability activist and musician and local arts advocate were both killed on Wednesday as they neared the end of a statewide journey to Savannah to raise awareness about disabilities.
Frank Barham, 60, was traveling from Atlanta to Savannah, charting 30 miles a day in his wheelchair, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, help more disabled people living in underserved communities gain access to wheelchairs, and to perform a concert. Atlanta arts supporter Margaret Kargbo was documenting the journey and escorting the Atlanta resident in a support van that followed behind.
According to the Savannah Morning News, a fully loaded tractor trailer struck the van from behind around 4 p.m. near the border of Screven and Effingham counties in southeast Georgia. The impact caused the van to hit Barham before catching fire in the median.
Carrie Johnson of Villa Rica, the driver of the van, was transported to a burn center in Augusta, the Morning News reports. The driver of the tractor trailer, who the newspaper identifies as Kenneth Richards of North Augusta, S.C., was uninjured. The Morning News says charges are pending.
Barham, who became a paraplegic in his mid-20s after a car accident, was traveling to Savannah as part of Wheel 2 Live. According to Barham’s website, the route followed the path of Gen. William Sherman’s “March to the Sea” during the Civil War. He was scheduled to perform at Telfair Square in Savannah on Friday. The concert has been canceled.
Kargbo is a well-known and valued member of the local arts community who chaired the board of C4, the local arts nonprofit.
“The board and staff of C4 Atlanta would like to express our condolences to the families on the loss of Margaret Kargbo and Frank Barham,” C4 said in a statement. “Our thoughts are also with Carrie Beth Johnson during this time. Our hearts are heavy with grief. The community lost two great heroes in the arts.
Margaret and Frank both carried a strong presence as widely admired advocates. Their loss will be felt throughout the community.”
Before she died, the Howard University graduate served as the public affairs director at Women Engaged, a nonprofit aimed at involving more women in social and political movements. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Kargbo’s family and cover expenses.