Harnett County deputy who was also a middle school SRO dies in multi-vehicle crash
HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a three-vehicle crash that killed a veteran Harnett County deputy on Tuesday afternoon.
It happened just before 3 p.m. in the 3500 block of Darroch Road.
According to State Highway Patrol, a semi-truck was going west on Darroch Road when the deputy crossed the center line coming from the other direction.
That's when the semi-truck and the deputy's car collided.
After impact, the patrol car then hit a Dodge Durango that was behind the tractor-trailer.
The Harnett County Sheriff's Office told ABC11 that Deputy Sheriff Chris Johnson died from his injuries at the scene.
The driver of the tractor-trailer wasn't injured. The driver and passenger in the Dodge Durango were taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
No charges have been filed in the case.
Harnett County Schools confirmed that Johnson was a School Resource Officer (SRO) for Highland Middle School.
"Harnett County Schools is deeply saddened to hear about the death of Chris Johnson, a School Resource Officer at Highland Middle School," the school system said. "We appreciate Deputy Johnson's service to our students and staff. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. Grief counselors are available at the school to speak with any student or faculty member affected by this news."
Johnson worked at the Harnett County Sheriff's Office for 16 months. Before that, he worked with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office for 16 years and the Dunn Police Department for nine years.
"He was a professional law enforcement veteran who was well respected by his colleagues in the profession and in his community," the Harnett County Sheriff's Office said in a release. Sheriff Wayne Coats asked for prayers for Johnson's family.
Earlier in the day video captured by Chopper 11 showed a Harnett County Sheriff's deputy vehicle at the scene with a tarp placed over it. A nearby tractor-trailer that ran off the road was believed to be involved in the crash. Skid marks on the road indicate the trucker tried to quickly stop. A black SUV was also seen off the road with its airbags deployed and significant front-end damage.
Tow trucks and a handful of law enforcement vehicles remained at the scene as darkness approached.
Two other people were taken to a hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
Darroch Road was closed for hours near NC 210. The roadway reopened at 7:15 p.m.
RALLYING AROUND THE FAMILY
An online fundraiser has been started to support Johnson's wife and children in the hours after his death.
Back the Blue NC Founder Lindsay LiCausi told ABC11 that 100% of the proceeds from her organization's fundraiser will go directly to Johnson's family.
"Not only are they losing a family member, but they are losing their sense of livelihood and their income to support themselves and their children," LiCausi said, and she added that the fundraiser is designed to help Johnson's family worry about one less thing in the immediate aftermath of losing their loved one.
Johnson, who also worked as a School Resource Officer at Highland Middle in Sanford, was leaving the school when the crash happened.
'These children are not only losing a protector in their educational environment, but they're losing a friend and somebody that they can turn to," LiCausi said.
Harnett County Schools released a statement saying there will be grief counselors available to students of Highland Middle School in the wake of Johnson's death.
Those interested in learning more about the fundraiser can search "Harnett County" on the GoFundMe site.
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