Abigail Melisko Dies From Injuries Sustained After Being Hit by Car While Walking to School

Peoria, Arizona—Abigail Melisko, age 16, died on Wednesday from injuries she suffered on March 1st when she was hit by a car. Abigail, a student at Sunrise Mountain High School, was walking to school and in a crosswalk with a walk signal at the intersection of 87th Avenue and Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria when she was hit by a driver who reportedly ran a red light.

Abigail was taken to a local hospital where she was on life support for more than a month. After life support measures were ended, she was transferred to hospice.

Several days before her death, more than 40 of Abigail's friends and classmates held a candlelight vigil on a hill overlooking Christ's Church of the Valley. Friends described her as having a "bubbly" personality and always joking around. Her friends organized a car wash to raise money for Abigail's family and have taken to Twitter using the hashtag #AbbyIsForever to show their support. A GoFundMe page has received more than $22,000 in donations to assist with medical bills and other expenses.

The driver of the vehicle may face charges in connection with the accident. A person who runs a red light and causes a death or serious injury can be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor.

We offer our deepest condolences to Abigail's family and friends as they cope with this unimaginable loss.