Valley teen killed in Ohio hit-and-run

Police in Ohio are looking for the driver of a pickup that struck and killed a 16-year-old Las Vegas girl Thursday morning.

Veronica Gantt had just arrived in Columbus for a Roman Catholic youth conference when she was hit after leaving a fast-food restaurant. Gantt was walking toward her hotel with two other people on a busy road just north of Ohio State University when she was run over, Columbus police Detective David Cornute said.

Police said the truck was traveling in the same direction as the teens and didn't stop. The others walking with Gantt were not injured.

Gantt, a Del Sol High School junior went to Ohio with other youths from St. Viator Catholic Church, located on Flamingo Road near Eastern Avenue. Gantt was among the more than 20,000 teens expected at the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry Conference, being held in Columbus through Saturday.

The group from St. Viator returned to Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon. Church leaders met with youth group members Thursday when they returned to Las Vegas, providing them with grief counseling, said Rachel Wilkinson, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Diocese.

Gantt's parents, meanwhile, headed to Ohio to meet with authorities there, and a priest from St. Viator met with Gantt's parents before they left, Wilkinson said.

Students at Del Sol High School found out about Gantt's death through text messages from friends on the trip.

As word spread, Principal John Barlow spoke with teachers and counselors about how to help grieving students. Some students at Del Roy received counseling Thursday afternoon. The school's crisis management team will be on hand today to assist students, a spokesman for the district said.

Bishop Joseph A. Pepe issued a written statement to the media saying, "The shock of losing someone so young and vibrant in such a tragic way is overwhelming. My hope and prayer is that her family, her friends, and our entire community can find strength in our faith and in the love of Jesus Christ as we deal with the impact of her loss."

"The youth of our church and their ministry is a vital and essential part of the Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas," Pepe's statement continued. "Young people such as Veronica, are the light of our community."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Beth Walton at bwalton@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0279.