Teen killed in Macomb Township accident identified

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A 14-year-old girl on her way to school was hit and killed a car driven by one of her classmates Friday.

It happened this morning, just a mile away from Dakota High School in Macomb Township.

Victoria Cartwright was less than a mile from school crossing Heydenreich Road. Two of her classmates were in a black Jeep also on their way to school when they collided.  First responders loaded her in ambulance.

"With severe injuries, she was immediately transported to Henry Ford Hospital where she later died from her injuries," said Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.
  
The driver of the Jeep, a 16-year-old girl and her 16-year-old passenger, pulled over and called 911.

"She was brought in along with the passenger and family members and again they have been cooperative," said  "As you can imagine it has been a traumatic situation for them."

Investigators still working to determine why she was in the road. There is no crosswalk where she was struck and other circumstances are also being looked at.

"We have telephones to make sure no one was texting and driving or make sure no distracting driving was going on," Wickersham said.

Neighbors say this area can be dangerous especially in the early hours of the morning.

"They need to lower the speed limit here they need street lights especially for the kids when they are waking to school when it's dark out here," said resident Joyce Gatien.

At the stretch of the road where the accident happened, Heydenreich, the speed limit is 50 miles per hour just feet away it goes into a school zone 35.

At school we're told grief counselors were on hand for students having a tough time dealing with the tragedy.
 
Dakota principal Paul Sibley had this to say about Cartwright.

"Victoria Cartwright will be remembered as a creative, artistic student who had her own unique sense of style. She often talked about her strong family relationships, especially the one she shared with her mother and brother.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.  she will be missed by many."

The students at the school will be wearing white at Friday night's football game in her memory.