BATON ROUGE — On the afternoon of Thursday, October 17, a tragic accident on O’Neal Lane near Derby Avenue left a local resident, Robert Ganaway, 48, fighting for his life. At approximately 3:45 p.m., Ganaway, a Walmart Supercenter employee, was hit by a fast-moving, southbound vehicle while riding his bike.
“The bike was his current means of transportation. So he was on O’Neal all the time riding,” Ganaway’s sister-in-law, Christa Ganaway told UWK.
Witnesses described the vehicle as a white SUV that fled the scene without stopping.
Robert Ganaway, who lives in the O’Neal Lane area, was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he remains in the ICU with a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures. His condition is critical, and doctors say that even if he survives, the chances of a full recovery are uncertain.
Christa Ganaway, his brother’s wife, shared her family’s heartache as they sit vigil by his side, hoping for a miracle.
“He lives and works off O’Neal, right where it happened,” she shared. “He was crossing the road on his bicycle, which is his main way of getting around. The driver hit him and never stopped. A witness said it was a white SUV, and it all happened right in front of her.”
For the past 11 days, Christa and her family have focused on his recovery, watching him endure numerous surgeries for brain swelling, fractures, and internal injuries. Their lives have been upended by fear, uncertainty, and an urgent need for answers.
“The sheriff’s deputy told us he’s tried everything—there aren’t any cameras there, and he feels people in the area might not want to talk. But he hasn’t given up, and neither have we,” Christa said.
The family is now reaching out to the Baton Rouge community for help. They’re seeking anyone who may have seen the incident, who might have noticed the white SUV with recent damage on one of its front corners, or who may know someone in the area with such a vehicle.
“We’re asking anyone who witnessed this or who may have any information at all to please come forward. We believe this driver may live nearby, and we need the community’s help to find them. We just want justice for Robert,” she said passionately.
Ganaway’s family remains hopeful that answers will come. Anyone with information is asked to contact the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Any detail, no matter how small, could help bring closure to a family in anguish and hold the responsible party accountable.
To help the family during this time, donations can be made via venmo.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Help support UWK and their mission to continue providing you “The News You Deserve. Unfiltered.” Sign up to become a monthly patron via Patreon.
