School crossing guard seriously injured after being struck by vehicle in Morris County

PARSIPPANY–TROY HILLS, N.J. (Morris County) — A Parsippany school crossing guard was seriously injured Thursday afternoon after being struck by a motor vehicle while on duty, authorities said.

Parsippany police and Morris County EMS responded at about 3:30 p.m. to a report of a pedestrian struck at the intersection of Vail Road and Redstone Drive. Upon arrival, officers found Denise Rocco, a uniformed Parsippany School Crossing Guard, who had been hit while attempting to stop traffic in a marked crosswalk, police said.

Rocco sustained serious injuries and was transported to Morristown Medical Center, where she remains under treatment, authorities said.

The driver, identified as David Brown, 53, of Lake Hiawatha, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. Brown was issued motor vehicle summonses for failure to stop for a school crossing guard, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, and careless driving.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany–Troy Hills Police Department at 973-263-4300.