Emily Gold, teenage dancer on “America's Got Talent,” dies at age 17

Editor's Note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call, text or chat 988 at 988lifeline.org.

Emily Gold, a young dancer who appeared on the final season of “America's Got Talent,” has died. She was 17.

A young woman was found dead on State Route 210 in Rancho Cucamonga, California, on Friday, Officer Rodrigo Jiménez of the California Highway Patrol confirmed in a news release to USA TODAY on Monday. CHP officers were called to respond to a report of a “pedestrian lying on the roadway.”

“A 17-year-old woman from Rancho Cucamonga was struck by at least one vehicle in the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane of eastbound SR-210 freeway,” the press release states. “The woman succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Tito Jackson has died: Jackson 5 co-founder and brother of Michael Jackson was 70

Mara Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Department, confirmed Gold's identity to USA TODAY in an email. Her death is being treated as a suicide.

Further details regarding Gold's death are currently being investigated by the CHP. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer S. Gonzalez at (909)-980-3449.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives from “America's Got Talent” for comment.

Emily Gold impresses with dance group at “America's Got Talent”

Gold competed in Season 19 of “AGT” as a member of the Los Osos High School dance team. The group turned heads during the audition round with a lively number set to Usher's hits “OMG” and “Yeah!”

While they received mixed reactions from the judges, the dancers were praised by Simon Cowell for their “absolutely brilliant” performance.

The Los Osos troupe made it to the quarterfinals of “AGT.” Although the group was ultimately eliminated, Cowell praised the group for their improved performance.

“I don't know anything about dancing,” Cowell said. “But for me it was an event.”

James Earl Jones has died: The celebrated “Field of Dreams” actor and Darth Vader’s voice was 93

A GoFundMe page has been set up in Gold's honor to help the dancer's family with expenses. At the time of publication, the online fundraiser has raised over $27,000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emily Gold dead: 'America's Got Talent' dancer dies at 17