Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today released the following statement on the death of 17-year-old Francis McInerney in West Roxbury late last night:

“The loss of Francis McInerney’s life on VFW Parkway last night is a terrible tragedy for his family, his friends, and the Catholic Memorial School community. That tragedy is compounded by the fact that they must now mourn his loss at what should have been a time of celebration as Francis completed his junior year and prepared for a bright future as a senior and a promising young man.

“Because the collision took place on a State roadway within the City of Boston, I have assigned the investigation to State Police detectives attached to my office. Through the night and into today, they have been working to establish the facts and circumstances of Francis’ death alongside State Police crash reconstruction experts. That probe will continue for the days and weeks to come and will not end until we have a clear and comprehensive account of what took place.

“The driver whose car struck Francis did not exhibit any signs of intoxication or impairment. The preliminary analysis of the scene didn’t suggest that he was travelling at an excessive rate of speed or operating erratically, but the collision analysis experts will provide us far greater detail on both of those points. I can say that he stopped his car immediately, remained at the scene, and has cooperated fully with investigators so far.

“As an alum of Catholic Memorial School, and as a father of two children myself, I am terribly saddened by this news. My heart goes out to Francis’ parents, loved ones, friends, teachers, and classmates. As District Attorney, I promise them a full investigation into last night’s tragic events and a thorough account of all the facts once they are known.”