Oct. 28, 2024, 5:47 p.m. ET
A crash involving a Franklin Borough police officer's SUV and a car on Route 23 resulted in the death of 19-year-old Deanna D'Arco on May 27.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, the patrol vehicle collided with a black Honda Prelude near Walsh Ave around 10:40 a.m. The Honda, driven by 21-year-old Darian Carver, was traveling north in the southbound lane prior to the impact.
D'Arco, who was a passenger in the Honda, succumbed to injuries two days later at Morristown Medical Center. Carver suffered minor injuries and received four motor vehicle summonses, including careless driving and improper passing.
At the time of the collision, Route 23 southbound was blocked due to a Memorial Day parade. The officer's vehicle had been parked horizontally across the lane and was observed reversing before moving forward and colliding with the Honda.
Grissom's vehicle was recorded traveling at 38 mph; the speed limit in the area is 35 mph. The vehicle's overhead lights were not activated during the incident.
Authorities reported that Grissom alerted dispatch immediately after the crash, indicating there was an unconscious individual in the other car. A 911 call and additional surveillance footage from the area were also released by the AG's office.
As of July, Sussex County Prosecutor's Office was investigating the summonses, with no criminal charges filed against Carver or Grissom at that time. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The AG's office reiterated that investigations involving fatalities during police encounters are presented to a grand jury for potential indictments. The status of the investigation remains ongoing.