NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — A 16-year-old girl was killed Monday evening after being struck by a vehicle in North Ridgeville.
“It felt like it was a nightmare and I was going to wake up and my phone was going to ring and [she was going to] be like, ‘Hey mom,’” said Corinne Gustafson. “She was my best friend, the light of my life.”
She told News 5 her daughter, Violet Gustafson, was on break from her job at McDonald's on Lorain Rd at the time. She said Violet grabbed a coffee at the Starbucks across the street and was returning to work when she was hit.
“This is just a whole tragic incident. There’s nothing more at this point to indicate this was anything more than an accident,” said North Ridgeville Captain Greg Petek.
Petek said the investigation is ongoing, but preliminary evidence suggests a westbound car hit the teenager just West of the intersection with Lear Nagle Road around 6 p.m. Monday.
When officers arrived, they found the teen, and first responders began administering first aid. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Petek said the driver stayed on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
By Tuesday afternoon, family and friends were leaving flowers, cards and balloons near the spot where Violet was hit.
“It just doesn’t seem real to me that one day she’s talking to me about everything, listening to music with me and then the next day she’s gone. It’s definitely shock,” said friend Brandon Jones.
Corinne Gustafson said her daughter had a fiery spirit, but a softer side that often won people over.
“She spoke her mind all the time, no matter what it was,” she said. “She was very loved by a lot of people and she cared a lot about and she cared for everybody that she came in contact with.”
According to the North Ridgeville City School District, the teen was a junior in the district. This school year, she was enrolled in the carpentry program at Lorain County JVS.
“We absolutely are thinking about the student’s family and the student’s friends and the larger school community,” said Lorain County JVS principal Megan Champagne.
She said counselors were on site to assist students and staff following the tragedy.
The North Ridgeville City School District sent the following letter to families and staff members regarding the teen's death:
Dear North Ridgeville Families and Staff,
It is with profound sadness that we share heartbreaking news. One of our Rangers, a high school and Lorain County JVS student, was struck by a car this evening and tragically did not survive.
This unimaginable loss has deeply affected our entire school community, and our hearts are heavy as we grieve together.
Beginning tomorrow, our crisis team and school counselors will be available on the high school campus to support any student who may need someone to talk to or help processing this difficult event. We encourage students to seek support from their peers, teachers, and counselors.
Please keep this student’s family in your thoughts and hold them close in your hearts as they face this devastating loss. In times like these, the strength of our Ranger community becomes especially important. Let us continue to show care, compassion, and support for one another in the days ahead.
Violet's family said the tragedy raises questions about safety near the area where she was hit.
“How do you not have a crosswalk at a major intersection like that?” said Corinne.
There are two crosswalks on the east and north sides of the intersection, but nothing on the west or south sides where Violet was crossing.
Police said crashes, usually minor fender-benders, are not uncommon around the intersection. It's near I-480 and the Ohio Turnpike, and its five lanes of traffic are very busy.
In a phone call with News 5, Mayor Kevin Corcoran said it was arguably one of the busiest intersections in the city.
Corcoran said in 2024 that the city worked with consulting engineers to explore traffic challenges in the area. The engineers identified a need for traffic calming measures and recommended replacing traffic signals with roundabouts.
The study, which is informing a transformation called Gateway North Ridgeville, found limited pedestrian traffic in the area.
Corinne Gustafson said safety improvements are part of her future mission. In the meantime, she wants others to remember that life is fleeting.
“Love your kids everyday. Don’t let them walk out the door without saying you love them because you never know if you’ll get that chance again,” she said.
A GoFundMe has been started to raise funds for a memorial honoring Violet.
