Essex County EMS Community Mourns Mom Killed In Crash (UPDATED)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It was hard not to smile when you worked alongside Priscilla Godoy. And that’s just one of the many reasons that the 29-year-old associate with the West Essex First Aid Squad will be missed, according to her former captain.

On Sunday, Godoy’s life was tragically cut short when she was killed during a car chase in Newark, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Goday, 29, a Newark resident, was crossing South 14th Street around 10:44 p.m. when two men in a stolen Jeep Cherokee crashed into another car while trying to elude police, setting off a chain reaction that pinned her between two parked vehicles, prosecutors said.

Goday suffered fatal injuries and was rushed to University Hospital. She was pronounced dead at midnight, prosecutors said.

A police investigation is ongoing; no arrests have been made, prosecutors stated earlier this week.

On Monday, the West Essex First Aid Squad, which is based in West Caldwell, posted a message of condolence on social media:

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the untimely passing of one of our squad members this weekend. In memory of Priscilla Godoy. WEFAS extends our deepest condolences to Priscilla's family and friends.”

The sentiment was swiftly echoed by other nearby EMS squads:

• Montclair Ambulance Unit – “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone at West Essex FAS and all of Priscilla’s family and friends during this difficult time. Godspeed Priscilla, rest easy... we’ll take it from here.”
• South Orange Rescue Squad – “Our condolences to Priscilla’s family and the WEFAS family.”
• Verona Rescue Squad – “Our sincerest condolences to Priscilla’s family as well as the WEFAS family.”

WEFAS Captain Dave Black told Patch that Goday joined the squad as an associate in July 2015. As of April 2018, Goday had answered 134 calls in her local community, serving on various night and day crews based on her work schedule.

She was currently enrolled in an EMT class and was geared up for a bright future, Black said.

“Working with Priscilla was always a pleasure,” Black said. “She always had this big smile while serving the community.”

'LOVING, CARING MOTHER OF ONE'

Goday's family in East Orange has started a GoFundMe online campaign to help pay for funeral and medical expenses. (See the campaign or make a donation here)

Her family wrote:

"Priscilla Godoy was a loving, caring mother of one. She dedicated her life to bettering herself, while also being there for any and everyone else who needed help. She was always very giving and a positive spirit to be surrounded by.

“On April 14, Priscilla Godoy was involved in a gruesome car accident with her father Samuel Godoy. While driving, they were hit by a careless driver at high speeds. They were both injured severely. Samuel Godoy is still hospitalized and Priscilla Godoy was released to continue on to therapy.

“Almost 2 weeks later, on May 5, Priscilla Godoy’s life was taken. She was involved in a car crash incident involving multiple cars, during a police pursuit of a stolen vehicle in New Jersey. Her father, Samuel Godoy, is still hospitalized with external and internal injuries and in recovery from multiple surgeries.

“Samuel Godoy is the bread winner of his family and is unable to assist with these expenses due to his confinement to a hospital bed. These donations will contribute towards funeral expenses and medical costs.”

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Photo: West Essex First Aid Squad