Accident kills teen in Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD – A 15-year-old Marblehead girl died Monday night from injuries she sustained when she was struck by a car at the corner of Pleasant Street and Mohawk Road.Alessandra Marshall “Allie” Castner would have been a sophomore at Marblehead High School this fall.Although authorities on Tuesday had not released the name of the victim, a Facebook group account named “Rest in Peace Allie Castner” was created Tuesday and hundreds of mourners have posted condolence messages. Marblehead High was open Tuesday and counselors were available to talk to grieving students.Police are still piecing together the details to learn how the incident occurred and have not identified the male driver of the four-door, late model Volvo sedan.Marblehead police Chief Robert Picariello declined comment. A Marblehead Police Department press release indicated a 911 emergency call was received at 6:55 p.m. to report that a pedestrian had been struck by a motor vehicle at the intersection.Marblehead police and fire units responded, along with an Atlantic Ambulance.Castner was first taken to Salem Hospital and later transferred to the Boston Medical Center by medical helicopter.Students mourning the girl’s death assembled a roadside shrine early Tuesday afternoon on Pleasant Street and were participating in a vigil.Darrell Keene of Boston, one of the many people to post comments on the Facebook page, wrote: “Allie was always a kind and loving person. As a student, I enjoyed having her smile in my class. Even though she was always a quiet person, her smile spoke volumes and I will always remember her incredible tender, and sweet personality.”Police have impounded the Volvo.Castner was an athlete who was looking forward to playing soccer in high school this fall. She also played basketball and tennis and she enjoyed skiing, ice skating and swimming. She attended the Coffin School, the Marblehead Community Public Charter School, Marblehead Veterans Middle School and, most recently, Marblehead High.In addition to her mother, Julie (Babine) Castner, her mother’s fiance, Patrick Healey, her father, Christopher Hale Castner and his wife, Pamela Castner, she leaves three sisters, Lia, Haley and Marley. Her funeral will be held Friday in the Old North Church in Marblehead.”There’s a joint investigation being conducted by the Marblehead Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and our office,” according to Essex County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Carrie Kimball Monahan.Monahan said a police accident reconstruction team has been working on the case.Funeral arrangements are being handled by Murphy Funeral Home in Salem.