'America's Got Talent' dancer, whose group got a standing ovation, dies at 17
Warning: This story deals with suicide.
A 17-year-old dancer from Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California, whose team joined America's Got Talent and earned a standing ovation, died by suicide.
PEOPLE Magazine reported that Emily Gold was found dead by suicide at 11:52 p.m. according to the San Bernardino Coroner's Office.
Her loved ones also announced her passing via GoFundMe.
"With great sadness we share our Los Osos Grizzly Emily Gold has passed away," they said.
California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez said "officers from the California Highway Patrol Rancho Cucamonga area responded to a pedestrian down in lanes."
"When the officers arrived, they located a female, 17-year-old, who was struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210," Jimenez is quoted as saying. "The female did succumb to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The police are asking members of the public who saw what happened or have any information about the incident.
Last August, Gold and her fellow dancers from Los Osos High School impressed the judges and landed in the quarterfinals before getting eliminated.
Even if they got eliminated, judge Simon Cowell called their performance "absolutely brilliant" and gave them a standing ovation.
"What I loved about this was first of all the energy," Cowell said after their performance. "I think what I just saw is everything a great school should be doing, which is encouraging talent and friendship."
"It reminded me of seeing the High School Musical movie and thinking every kid should go to a school like that," he added.
In an interview with PEOPLE following their performance, Gold said she was thinking about all the corrections in her routine before they went on stage.
She also noted that it's tough to balance being an AGT contestant and a student.
"It's definitely tough to balance it all, but we make it happen," she said.
In the GoFundMe page, Gold's loved ones said, "As a community let's come together and support the Gold family in this difficult time. Please know this money will go directly to the family to support them and help with expenses."
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If you think you, your friend, or your family member is considering self-harm or suicide, you may call the National Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide, landline toll-free), 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-USAP (8727) for Globe/TM users, or 0908-639-2672 for Smart users.
