Vigil for Teen Killed in Cop Car Crash
14-year-old who died in horrific collision remembered by friends
NBCMiami.com
Friends attend a tearful vigil for Cara Catlin, an Oakland Park teen killed in a collision with a BSO patrol car.
Friends and classmates held a tearful vigil for a 14-year-old South Florida girl killed late Saturday night in a collision with a Broward Sheriff's Office patrol car.
Cara Catlin was killed late Saturday when the Honda Civic she was riding in collided with Deputy Frank McCurrie's cruiser on Dixie Highway near NE 56th St. in Oakland Park.
Friends gathered yesterday at the beach in Lauderdale By the Sea to remember their young friend.
"It just feels unreal, it's like a bad dream that you're never gonna wake up from," said friend Alexis Gardner.
Hundreds of balloons were released into the air, purple and white, Catlin's favorite colors. Friends described the Northeast High School freshman as a positive presence.
"This didn't deserve to happen to her, she didn't deserve it," said friend Karry Geiger. "If you were feeling down, she'd make you smile no matter what."
Indeed the accident might have been prevented. Deputy McCurrie didn't have his lights or siren on when the accident happened, just before 10 p.m.
Witnesses who saw the crash described it as the worst they'd ever seen.
"It was skid marks and then a giant crash, I never heard a crash that loud before," said witness John Smith. "Both ends of the car were split in half."
The BSO is investigating the crash. Catlin's friends said it isn't enough.
"A 14-year-old girl lost her life last night, and if they just act like that was nothing, that's horrible," friend Justin Mesa said.
