A Newburyport reverend was struck and killed while on her way to deliver a prayer at the mayor’s State of the City address Wednesday night, according to officials.

Mayor Sean Reardon on Thursday mourned the death of the Rev. Helen M. Sampson Murgida, an 81-year-old who served as an affiliate community minister at the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist Church in the North Shore city.

Murgida, on her way to Reardon’s annual speech, was struck by a driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck around 6:40 p.m., on Green Street across from City Hall, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office said in a release.

First responders removed Murgida from beneath the truck before rushing her to Anna Jaques Hospital where medical personnel pronounced her dead.

Reardon, in a release, called it a “tragic day for the Newburyport community.” The crash delayed the mayor’s speech by 15 minutes, and Reardon appeared “visibly shaken” by the incident during his address, the Newburyport News reported.

“As an Interfaith Chaplain, Rev. Helen touched many lives within her congregation and throughout Newburyport,” Reardon said. “She had spent a long and rewarding career in special education, and she carried her passion to support those facing challenges through her faith.

“She advocated tirelessly for the inclusion of people with disabilities, delivering sermons and organizing community programming to raise awareness,” the mayor continued. “She made our City an even more welcoming and inclusive place.”

The driver remained on scene and cooperated with authorities. No authorities or citations have been issued, while Newburyport police and Tucker’s office continue to investigate the crash.

Counseling services have been made available to City Hall staff, Reardon said,