A 16-year-old Missouri girl died after being struck by a sheriff’s deputy’s car while she was lying unconscious in a road near Park Hills in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The deputy from the St Francois County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a report of an unconscious girl at about 3.43am. When he arrived, he saw the caller’s parked car with its hazard lights on but did not spot the teenager on the road.
He then hit her with his vehicle. A coroner was called to the scene and pronounced the girl dead.
She was later identified by her family and the coroner’s office as Persephone Berger.
A preliminary autopsy found that Ms Berger had no physical injuries before she was struck, according to the sheriff’s office. Her official cause and manner of death will be determined after the final report is completed.
Independent investigation into Persephone Berger’s death
The reason Ms Berger was lying unconscious in the road during the night remains unclear and is being investigated. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been asked to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident and her death.
The sheriff’s office said there had been false claims on social media suggesting that Ms Berger was hit during a vehicle pursuit and that the deputy drove away afterwards. It said neither claim was accurate.
A candlelight vigil was held by members of the local community on Monday evening. Ms Berger’s friends said she had been a popular and high-achieving pupil at West County High School.
Emma Houser described her as “a really lively, understanding person. She never judged a soul. She was just a really sweet person.”
Isaac Madden said she was “very kind” and “super funny”, adding: “She was really smart. She had a bright future ahead of her.”
Riley Skaggs said Ms Berger was “probably one of the top of our class” at the school.
In a statement, the high school said: “Our hearts go out to the student’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and everyone in our school community who is affected by this heartbreaking loss.”
It added that the school community was “more than just a place of learning” and that counselling and support would be available to pupils and staff affected by her death.
Ms Berger’s friends are organising a T-shirt fundraiser to support her parents and siblings, while an online fundraiser has also been set up to help cover funeral costs.
“We’re here, and we’re gonna do the best we can to raise as much money and get justice for Persephone,” Ms Skaggs said.
