Fatal traffic accident in Franklin, New Jersey, involving a police officer is under investigation

A Memorial Day traffic accident in Franklin Borough involving an on-duty police officer that resulted in the death of a young woman is currently being investigated by the state Attorney General’s Office.

The accident occurred around 10:40 a.m. Monday when a marked county police patrol vehicle collided with another vehicle near the intersection of State Route 23 and Walsh Road, according to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office.

The passenger was taken to Morristown Medical Center but died of her injuries at 12:45 a.m. on May 29. The officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released.

While the Attorney General’s Office would not release the identity of the deceased and the officer involved, the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash was identified by family as 19-year-old Deanna D’Arco. Her aunt noted on social media that D’Arco’s family and her boyfriend’s family have set up GoFundMe pages.

In addition, her father, Steven D’Arco, released a statement through the Paterson Fire Department, where he worked as a battalion chief for nearly 25 years.

Steven D’Arco said in the statement that his daughter was his “hero,” noting that she was the “toughest person I’ve ever met in my life,” according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. He thanked the community for its support, noting that messages and voicemails have given him strength.

D’Arco said a flag was raised at Morristown Medical Center on Friday morning to indicate that his daughter’s organs and tissue would be donated for transplants and research.

“This gives her mother Kacy, her brother Dominic, me and our whole family some comfort in knowing that something positive can come out of something that has destroyed so many lives forever,” he said.

Deanna D’Arco’s uncle Dave D’Arco, a retired Paterson police sergeant, posted a video on Facebook of the organ transplant flag raising in Morristown and said her legacy will “live on in others.”

Due to the organ donation, funeral arrangements have been delayed, but D’Arco said they will be made soon.

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The cause of the accident in Franklin is still under investigation. A video provided to the New Jersey Herald by a passing motorist shows the aftermath of the accident. Among other things, a black Honda Prelude with severe damage to the passenger side and a Franklin Borough Police SUV with damage to the passenger side can be seen.

In the video, an officer can be seen walking around the SUV. The accident occurred near the McDonald’s, a busy area that led to the closure of the state highway and diverting commuters to a ShopRite parking lot, causing delays.

The family of Deanna D’Arco’s boyfriend Darian Carver started a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $11,000 since it was created Wednesday. The family added the hashtag #Justice4Deanna after sharing sentiments that reflected D’Arco’s “vibrant” personality.

Steve D’Arco noted in his statement that Darian Carver was a “true source of love and happiness” for his daughter.

He said his daughter had fought hard and battled against adversity in her short life, but she had never given up or backed down.

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