Pedestrian struck by car near school grounds

Sparta - A Sussex Tech student was seriously injured when he was struck by a car at the high school. The 16-year-old was crossing White Lake Road between the two sections of the school on Dec. 8 at 3:15 p.m. Police said he was in the crosswalk, police said. Police said the boy was struck by a Dodge Durango driven by Casandra Whitesell, 21, of Wantage. Whitesell told police she had turned to the rear seat to place a pacifier in her baby’s mouth when she struck the boy. The student was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital, but later transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital due to the severity of his injuries, police said. Whitesell was issueed summonses for careless driving and failture to yield to a pedestrian in a cross walk.