Amy Leigh Garbati
By Kevin Deutsch
A 67-year-old Tamarac woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash on North Pine Island Road Saturday, authorities said.
Amy Leigh Garbati, a retired chief engineer and an LGBTQ activist who lived in the 7500 block of Northwest 86th Terrace in Tamarac, was driving her 2019 Nissan Kicks SUV around 2:55 p.m. when it was struck by a 2014 Nissan Altima heading south in the 6900 block of North Pine Island Road in Tamarac, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Garbati had just turned left across the road’s southbound lanes and was struck on the Kick’s driver’s side, deputies said.
BSO’s preliminary investigation revealed the impact caused Garbati’s Kick to be redirected, coming to rest facing south in the northbound lanes of North Pine Island Road, deputies said.
The Altima was redirected across the northbound lanes, coming to rest in the parking lot area of a residential complex on the east side of North Pine Island Road.
According to the crash report, investigators wrote that the event data recorder on the Altima determined it was going 73 mph —- just five seconds prior to impact.
Garbati was remembered Saturday “for her tireless efforts for trans rights and many other LGBTQ issues” as a former board member of SC Equality and former chair of the SC Equality TransAction committee, South Carolina’s largest LGBTQ organization.
“SC Equality is devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Amy Leigh Garbati…” the nonprofit said in a Facebook post. “Amy had an unparalleled ability to address issues with common sense and objectivity. When she spoke, she was heard because of these unique strengths. Amy and her wife Nan made a huge impact in South Carolina during their time living here. Our thoughts are with her wife, Nan, and their family during this unimaginable time.”
“Amy, rest in power. We are charged now with carrying forward your efforts and remembering your many strengths as we do.”
On her LinkedIn profile, Garbati said she was an experienced Chief Engineer, now retired, who had worked as Chief Engineer for The Westin Fort Lauderdale from 2018 until 2021.
She also held that position at Atrium Hospitality and other companies.
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