Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Mass. 4th grader struck, killed by car
The 10-year-old girl was hit Saturday in Webster, and a vigil is planned as the community mourns, authorities say.
A 10-year-old girl died Saturday in Webster after she was struck by a car.
Shortly before 1 p.m., the South Worcester County Communication Center received a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of School and 4th streets, according to a statement from the Webster Police Department. The vehicle involved was driven by a 35-year-old woman from Southbridge.
Before first responders arrived, a passerby stopped to help and began performing CPR on the child, police said.
Police and EMS soon arrived at the scene and located the victim, later identified as Marleigh Guevara, a fourth-grade student in the Webster Public Schools. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, police said.
Advertisement:
Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
“When a community tragically loses a child, it loses a piece of its soul,” police said. “Our hearts go out to Marleigh’s family and friends as they endure this terrible loss.”
The crash remains under investigation by the Webster Police Department, the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Accident Reconstruction Unit, and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
In a message Sunday, Webster Superintendent of Schools Monique Pierangeli notified the school community of Marleigh’s death.
“We are heartbroken at the loss of one of our young 4th grade students, Marleigh, whose life was tragically cut short in an accident,” she said. “At just 10 years old, Marleigh was a bright light in our school community, full of promise, curiosity, and joy.”
Advertisement:
Pierangeli said the district will be providing support to students and staff as they grapple with this loss.
“No words can ease the pain of losing a child, and our hearts are with the family as they navigate this devastating time,” she said.
Marleigh’s family is holding a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. at 535 School St., police said.
A GoFundMe was created by her mother.
“My daughter, my beautiful Marleigh, was taken from me far too soon in a tragic accident,” she wrote in the campaign description. “I keep waiting to wake up from this nightmare, to hear her voice, to see her smile walk through the door… but that moment never comes. And that is a pain no mother should ever have to live with.”
Marleigh’s mother described her daughter as a loving sister to four girls, with a kind of light that “made people feel safe, happy, and loved just by being near her.”
“Her laugh was contagious, her heart was pure, and her presence made this world a better place. To know her was to truly love her,” she added.
Advertisement:
The fundraiser had raised more than $19,000 as of Monday.
“Any support, whether it’s a donation, a share, or a prayer, means more to us than words can ever express,” Marleigh’s mother wrote.
Be civil. Be kind.
Read our full community guidelines.To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address