FORREST CITY, Ark. — A Mid-South town is grieving the death of a local woman turned beauty queen.

Turquoise ribbons were hanging from mailboxes, signs and doors all over Forrest City on Tuesday.

Neighbors and loved ones were remembering 24-year-old Cara McCollum, who was raised in St. Francis County.

“When I heard, it kind of — you don’t know what to think. When you think about it more and more, it gets harder,” Jack Dunn, who grew up next door to McCollum, said.

Family members said McCollum died in the hospital on Monday after crashing into trees on a New Jersey highway last week.

“I was hoping that her parents would get the miracle they were looking for,” Steven Machen said.

Cara was the small-town girl who made it big.

She attended Princeton University, was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2013 and competed in the Miss America competition.

“When she won Miss New Jersey in the Miss America pageant, we had a bunch of people go to New Jersey and watch that,” Dunn recalled.

“Cara had a bright future ahead of her, and I know that they were hoping the best — that she would get to continue that future and they would get to see her fulfill that,” Machen explained.

Cara went on to anchor a morning news program in New Jersey at SNJ Today where she is remembered for her determination and sincerity.

“She was just the heart of the entire station,” a co-worker said in an interview. “I don’t know any other way to say it.”

WREG went to the house where Mccullum grew up. Neighbors said her family recently moved.

“Anybody that even remotely knew her knows about the situation right now I’m sure, and everybody is torn up about it,” Machen said.

“It’s just hard to talk about losing somebody,” Dunn said as he fought back tears. “I mean her family — I’m very close to them. I mean I grew up with them. Her brother — I knew him very well. She was very smart, talented. It’s just sad to see somebody go like that.”

Family members told neighbors they were heading back from New Jersey on Tuesday to begin planning her funeral.