'Quick To Love, Always Smiling' | 7-Year-Old Tripp Johnson Laid To Rest
ABINGDON, Md. (WJZ) -- It was an emotional day in Harford County as 7-year-old crash victim Tripp Johnnson was laid to rest.
Johnson was killed in a 12-vehicle car crash in Harford County on March 11, after a semi-truck slammed into cars stopped at an intersection.
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The funeral was held at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in Abingdon, Md. The village that helped raise Johnson helped lay him to rest.
"So I was actually his teacher, his preschool teacher. And Tripp, he was best friends with my son, Joey, who's now seven as well -- a month apart," said Barbie Bennett, Best Buddies Learning Center.
Best Buddies owner Barbie Bennett remembers Tripp as a beaming kid, quick to love, always smiling.
She joined an overflowing church for funeral services, along with two buses, filled with staff from William Paca Elementary School.
The crash also killed businessman Andrew Klein, and left five people injured, including Tripp's mother, Megan, who was critically injured.
Harford County poured its heart out in the gut-wrenching days that followed- raising $92,000 and counting.
"It's important to talk about it and you know, remember him for who he was and honor him and his mom and his dad. It's a horrible situation," Bennett said.
Inside the church Tuesday, memories from Tripp's classmates hung in a heart, as outside, family carried his casket bound for his final resting place.
Through hugs and tears, the healing begins for Harford County.
Tripp's mom Megan was able to be discharged from the hospital to attend both his viewing and his funeral.
In lieu of flowers, contribution can be made to William Paca/ Old Post Road Elementary School, 2706 Philadelphia Road, Abingdon, MD 21009, Attn: Tammy Bosley.
Here's where you can go to donate to their GoFundMe page.
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