Former Miss New Jersey, who showed warmth to everyone she met, dies after crash

A former beauty pageant winner who once competed for the Miss America crown died Monday, following a car crash in New Jersey earlier this month.

Cara McCollum, who was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2013 and then competed in the Miss America pageant, died at a Camden, N.J., hospital, NJ.com reported. A post on a Facebook page entitled “Prayers for Cara” said that her organs were donated.

“Before she died, Cara made the selfless decision to donate her organs,” it read. “At this very moment, she is saving lives.”

The post, which also included the video you can find below, continued: “We’ve prayed constantly for a miracle, and we believe God has answered our prayers. Although it’s not the miracle that we first envisioned, it’s a miracle nonetheless.”

The 24-year-old McCollum was also an anchor at SNJ Today, a television newscast. A post on  SNJ Today’s site and on its Facebook page said that she “showed warmth to everyone she met,” and said her “smile, determination and sincerity made her a beloved individual.”

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“She was a part of our news team family and we are gratified to have worked with her — even for such a short time,” it said. “We will miss her terribly.”

With tremendous difficulty and profound personal sadness, SNJ Today, its affiliates and member companies acknowledge the…

Posted by SNJ Today on Monday, February 22, 2016

McCollum’s car traveled off a slick roadway on Feb. 15 and collided with trees, NJ.com reported. According to the Associated Press, McCollum was the only person in the Mustang at the time of the crash.

Investigators didn’t think that drugs or alcohol contributed to the incident, AP reported.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count,” the “Prayers for Cara” Facebook post said. “It’s the life in your years.”

Very sad to learn of the passing of Miss NJ 2013 Cara McCollum. Thoughts & prayers to her family, friends & the @MissAmericaOrg community.

Today, my heart goes out to the friends and family of Cara McCollum, Miss New Jersey 2013, and our MAO sister. Matthew 19:14.

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