A New Jersey cheerleader died in a crash after she stole her mom’s car, and officials are not sure why she took it, according to New Jersey Advance Media.
Brooke Costanzo, 16, got her learner’s permit and got into her mother’s car without permission on the night of Sunday, Dec. 3, and drove 50 miles before she lost control and crashed into a tree, it was reported.
Saddle Brook vigil for Brooke Costanzo https://t.co/c3Nprwa6Tj pic.twitter.com/K0RZynr79s
— NorthJersey.com (@northjersey) December 6, 2017
The teen, a junior at Saddle Brook High School, was taken to the hospital and died Monday—12 hours later.
“We can’t even fathom how this could have happened,” said uncle Vincent Costanzo. The teen’s phone has not yet been recovered, but they hope emails and text message can reveal what happened.
Community Remembers 'Lovely' Brooke Costanzo At Candlelight Vigil https://t.co/naUURomOhs pic.twitter.com/VI7yWPUNxd
— Mahwah Patch (@MahwahPatch) December 6, 2017
“It’s so surreal to think that she’s gone,” said Angelica Parisi, a friend, NBC New York reported. “She was such a bright and bubbly person. She made everyone so happy.”
After she learned her friend died, Parisi said, “My whole entire body was in shock, I ran straight to my parents’ room and just cried.”
A GoFundMe page was created for her family to pay for her funeral. At least $50,000 has been raised in a few days.
Friends told NBC that Costanzo’s death is the second loss for the family, as her father died more than six years ago in a motorcycle accident, NBC reported.
Hundreds of members of the Saddle Brook community came together for a candlelight vigil tonight to mourn the loss of Brooke Costanzo. https://t.co/zL04OFAcaD via @northjersey pic.twitter.com/hYPMBF98Rz
— Josh Jongsma (@jongsmjo) December 6, 2017
“Brooke’s personality was also that she was involved with everything. She’s gained friendships, peer relations even with adults and this is a result of that. This is a result of the way she led her life,” said Anthony Riscica, who is the superintendent of the Saddle Brook public schools, reported the New York Post.
The accident remains under investigation, and people with information about it are urged to call the Saddle Brook Police Department at 732-329-4000.
Video: Remembering Brooke Costanzo of Saddle Brook https://t.co/TB2rOjpdKs pic.twitter.com/7x2Qil7Ibo
— NorthJersey.com (@northjersey) December 6, 2017
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