Attorney general identifies victim, officer in fatal Franklin Borough crash

Sussex County

Author: Richard L. Smith

The Office of the Attorney General has identified the individuals involved in a fatal car crash that occurred on May 27, 2024, in Franklin Borough, New Jersey.The civilian who died in the crash has been identified as 19-year-old Deanna D’Arco from Sussex Borough.

According to preliminary findings, the accident occurred around 10:41 a.m., when Sgt. Franklin Borough Police. William Grissom, who was on duty in a marked police vehicle, collided with a civilian vehicle near the intersection of State Route 23 and Walsh Street.

Ms. D’Arco, a passenger in the civilian vehicle, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Morristown Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 12:45 p.m.

The driver of the civilian vehicle and Sgt. Grissom was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

Under the 2019 law, N.J.SA 52:17B-107(a)(2), the Office of the Attorney General is required to investigate any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity or while the decedent is in custody .

This investigation must be presented to a grand jury to determine whether the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.