Ten days after a tragic crash that sent her and her best friend to the hospital, a 16-year-old girl had succumbed Tuesday to her fatal injuries.
Gianna Palmieri was supposed to celebrate her 17th birthday this week if she weren’t inside the 2006 Toyota XB driven by her friend, Kaitlyn Edwards.
The friends were returning home from a frozen yogurt trip on January 30 at around 10 p.m. when they crossed paths with Michael Pillarella’s vehicle traveling on the opposite lane of the road.
The 26-year-old man struggled to handle a curve and crossed lines only to crash his 2017 Hyundai Elantra into the girls’ Toyota.
Both suffered life-threatening injuries and were rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where they remained since.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of both of these young women. The driver should have been celebrating her birthday last weekend; instead, she was fighting for her life in the hospital.”
“The passenger that passed away this evening should have been celebrating her birthday this upcoming weekend. This is such an unspeakable tragedy.”
Gianna and Kaitlyn were enrolled at the Pinelands Regional High School and worked at a Tuckerton Acme supermarket.
Pillarella sustained minor injuries and was charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide in violation.
