Off duty State Police officer fatally hits Westfield teen, police say
WESTFIELD — A teenager was struck and killed on Saturday night by an off duty State Police officer
The 13-year-old girl was crossing Central Avenue near Wyoming Street, around 8:30 p.m according to Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park when she was hit by the trooper who was driving a State Police vehicle.
The identities of those involved in the incident were not disclosed by Park, who said the girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Park did not say if the officer was charged, or provide any details about the circumstances of the incident.
The girl was a member of the freshman class at Westfield High School. In a statement, Westfield school superintendent Margaret Dolan wrote "words cannot adequately describe the sorrow we feel upon the tragic loss last evening of one of our Westfield High School freshmen. Our thoughts and prayers are with her loving family and friends. Our school counselors and administrative team will be on hand to provide support and help in any way we can.”
No charges have yet been filed in the case.
An eyewitness account by neighbor Andrew Conrad posted on Facebook said a group of kids were running into the street, which he said was dimly lit, as part of a scavenger hunt when the girl was struck.
Conrad said the driver stopped and was taken into custody by Westfield Police.
Park asked anyone with information about the incident to call the Prosecutor's Office at 908-358-3048 or Westfield Police at 908-789-6068.
TAP Into Westfield contributed to this report
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.
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