Deanna D’Arco Death
State officials have identified the individual who passed away in a collision involving a police car during the Memorial Day weekend. Franklin Borough police Sgt. William Grissom was operating the police vehicle when it collided with a car carrying two individuals, one of whom was Deanna D’Arco, 19, from Vernon, as confirmed by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. D’Arco tragically lost her life in the accident.
Borough police have referred inquiries regarding Grissom’s status within the department to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Grissom joined the state’s police retirement pension plan in 2006, receiving an annual income of approximately $111,000, as per pension records.
D’Arco was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the collision with Grissom’s car, which occurred at approximately 10:41 p.m. on May 27 at the intersection of Route 23 and Walsh Street, according to the attorney general’s office.
She was transported to Morristown Medical Center and passed away on May 29. The driver of the vehicle was treated for injuries and subsequently discharged. D’Arco worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Little Learner Academy in Jefferson Township, as mentioned in her obituary.
An attempt to obtain a comment from the daycare via email was unsuccessful. Grissom, as previously stated by officials, sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. No additional details regarding the crash were disclosed by state officials on Tuesday.
