Joppa Boy, Businessman Killed In Ring Factory Road Fiery Crash

BEL AIR, MD — A 7-year-old Joppa boy and a Forest Hill supermarket owner were identified as the two people killed in a fiery crash on Ring Factory Road Monday, according to Maryland State Police. Harford County Fire and EMS officials said people were trapped in the crash at Route 24 at Ring Factory Road. Investigations into this crash, and others on Monday, hampered school buses on their afternoon routes, parents were told.

Tripp Johnson of Joppa and Andrew Klein, 65, of Forest Hill, were killed in the crash that involved a dozen vehicles. Klein was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. WBAL-TV reported Klein is an owner of nine Klein's ShopRite Supermarkets in the region.

"We are shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic accident that took place in Maryland today and claimed two precious lives, including a boy and our own beloved ShopRite family member, Andrew Klein, president of Klein's Family Markets," the company said in a statement to WBAL-TV. "Our hearts grieve with both families."

The 7-year-old was declared dead at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. Johnson was a student at Willam Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School in Abingdon.

The school system said in a statement to WJZ: "It is with great sadness that we share the tragic passing of one of our school community. Tripp Johnson was a second grade student at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School, where students and staff who knew him will continue to celebrate his cheerful personality. It is very difficult for all of us to face the death of a young person; a support team of psychologists, counselors, and pupil personnel workers have joined the staff at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary school to support students and staff through this difficult time.”

State police said the accident closed all northbound and southbound lanes of Route 24 between Plumtree Road and Marketplace Drive for several hours.

According to a preliminary investigation by Maryland State Police, a tractor-trailer rig carrying cargo for ShopRite grocery stores failed to slow or stop and struck numerous vehicles about 7 a.m. The truck — driven by Carloo Watson, 49, of Brunswick, N.J. — came to a stop at Ring Factory Road and caught fire, along with two other vehicles pinned under the truck.

The tractor-trailer was traveling south on Route 24 north of Ring Factory Road. Southbound Route 24 traffic was stopped and backed up before the Ring Factory intersection, police said. Investigators are trying to determine why the truck driver apparently didn't slow down before the crash.

Maryland State Police say six people were taken from the accident scene to local hospitals: two victims were taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview for treatment, two to Maryland Shock Trauma and two to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. The victims of the crash have yet to be identified, officials said.

The other victims who were hospitalized were identified as:

• Ubaldo Juarez, 54, of Bel Air. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
• Sharon Sexton, 57, of Forest Hill. She was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
• Megan Fulleylove, 30, of Joppa, Maryland. She was taken to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.

"Sending prayers to everyone involved in this morning's devastating accident, including the families and loved ones of the two victims who lost their lives," Gov. Larry Hogan wrote on Twitter. "My deepest gratitude goes to the first responders who rushed to the scene."

Maryland State Police were assisted at the scene by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Bel Air Police Department, Harford County Department of Emergency Services and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area and follow http://md511.org for latest road conditions.

Photos of the crash were shared by drivers on the Harford Fire blog:

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