13-year-old girl mourned after being fatally hit by State Trooper’s car
WESTFIELD — Friends are mourning after a 13-year-old girl was struck and killed by an off-duty New Jersey State Police officer, according to officials.
Friends and classmates gathered Sunday night. Flowers were also left along Central Avenue near Wyoming Street, the spot where the Westfield High School freshman, identified by friends and family as Terry DiFalco, was fatally hit on Saturday night as she crossed Central Avenue near Wyoming Street.
St. Helen Church of Westfield said on its Facebook page it would host a prayer service for DiFalco on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
DiFalco was struck by an off-duty State Police officer who was driving his service vehicle, according to Union County acting Prosecutor Grace Park.
Friend Vincent Moora told CBS New York that DiFalco was part of a townwide scavenger hunt Saturday night and was running across the street to a home where the next clue awaited.
Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan said DiFalco was active in the drama club and was with the club in a "bonding experience" on Saturday night.
Dolan described the club as a "tight knit group" whose spring musical is scheduled to be presented later this month.
"We're meeting especially with them. The director of the play, the musical director, the head of fine arts, the head of counseling," Dolan said. "We are meeting just with that group to see what their specific needs might be."
The superintendent said DiFalco was a "vibrant girl" who was creative, a good writer and a member of the peer leadership team when she was in middle school.
Principal Derrick Nelson in a letter to staff and students offered condolences on behalf of Westfield High School and said grief counseling would be available for students.
Condolences were also tweeted out.
Park's officer is investigating the incident and has not disclosed the officer's identity. No charges have been filed.
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.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.
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