The people of North Ridgeville are very sad after Violet Gustafson died. She was 16 years old. Violet was a student and carpentry apprentice. She was hit by a car on Monday evening while crossing Lorain Road during a break from her job at McDonald’s.
Police say Violet had walked to Starbucks for coffee and was going back to work when the accident happened. Emergency teams took her to St. John Westshore Hospital, but she died soon after. The driver stayed at the scene. Police are checking if speeding or no crosswalks caused the crash.
Friends remember Violet for small things like her loud laugh, pep talks before tests, and always offering to cover shifts for others. She worked hard with school, two jobs, and her carpentry training.
On Tuesday night, classmates and neighbors held a candlelight vigil. They released balloons and shared stories about how Violet made people feel seen and important.
Violet Gustafson is remembered as a loving daughter, loyal friend, and a girl with great promise. Her warmth touched everyone she met.
