19-year-old killed in accident with police officer in Franklin Borough

A 19-year-old girl who was involved in an accident with an on-duty Franklin police officer driving his marked patrol car has died.

The accident occurred on Monday at the intersection of Route 23 and Walsh Road in Franklin Borough, Sussex County. Deanna D’Arco died two days later.

A few days after the crash, a memorial was erected at the accident site. Reconstruction paints can also be seen.

“The impact was terrible,” said witness Corie Marquart. “It looked really bad. You knew someone was really, really hurt.”

D’Arco was a passenger in one of the cars involved in the crash. The accident occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Monday. She succumbed to her injuries early Wednesday morning. Her driver was treated and released.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the other driver was an on-duty Franklin police officer operating a service vehicle.

According to witnesses, this happened minutes after the district’s Memorial Day parade.

“The parade is ending and I see the cop speeding past me heading south,” Marquart said. “I’m like, ‘Why is he going so fast?’ So I turn around and look behind me. There I see this car turning onto (Route) 23.”

According to eyewitnesses, the two cars collided. The Attorney General’s Office has not released any information about the identity or status of the officer. It is still unclear whether speed or other factors played a role.

The D’Arco family raised a New Jersey Sharing Network flag outside Morristown Medical Center on Friday morning, making D’Arco an organ donor.

“It can save up to eight lives with one organ donation and improve the lives of up to 75 more with one tissue donation,” said Amy Young of the NJ Sharing Network.

“She has been my hero for years and now she can be a hero to others,” said her father, Steven D’Arco.