Community Corner
Community Holds Vigil For 10-Year-Old Girl Killed In Worcester County Crash
Marleigh Guevara, 10, was hit by a vehicle on Saturday while outside near her home in Webster.
WEBSTER, MA — A vigil was held for a young child who was killed after being struck by a car in Central Massachusetts over the weekend.
Marleigh Guevara, 10, was hit by a vehicle on Saturday while outside on School Street. Her family held a candlelight vigil on Monday night in honor of her life.
Dozens of family and friends gathered on School Street at around 7 p.m. to honor the community's tragic loss. WCVB shared a video of the vigil, showing community members holding candles and looking toward a poster that reads "Marleigh, we miss you!"
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Following the crash on Saturday, a passerby used an AED and began CPR on Guevara, who was unresponsive at the time. Responders then took over life-saving efforts, police said.
She was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries, police said.
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The vehicle was driven by 35-year-old Sherry Mae Plitouke of Southbridge, police said. While it's not clear if she was charged in connection with the Saturday accident, Plitouke is facing multiple drug charges from an incident earlier this month.
On Apr. 3, Plitouke was arrested and charged with drug possession and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, according to the Dudley Police Department.
The crash is now being investigated by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Accident Reconstruction Unit, the Webster Police Department and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.
Marleigh's mother, Heather Pereira, has started a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses.
"Marleigh was everything. She had the kind of light that you don’t come across often, the kind that made people feel safe, happy, and loved just by being near her. Her laugh was contagious, her heart was pure, and her presence made this world a better place. To know her was to truly love her," the fundraiser said.
More than $32,000 has been donated. You can find the fundraiser here.
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