Kind, Fun-Loving Joppa Boy Killed In Crash Mourned By Community

BEL AIR, MD — Mourners across Maryland are grieving the loss of Tripp Johnson, a 7-year-old boy from Joppa who died in a 12-vehicle crash on Monday.

Johnson was a second-grade student at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School in Abingdon. He was one of two victims killed in a fiery crash on Ring Factory Road. Around 7 a.m., a tractor-trailer rig carrying cargo for ShopRite grocery stores failed to slow or stop and crashed into multiple cars, according to Maryland State Police. The tractor-trailer came to a stop at Ring Factory Road and caught fire, along with two other vehicles that were pinned under the truck.

The second victim of the crash was 65-year-old businessman and philanthropist Andrew Klein, of Forest Hill.

"He was a good kid," Johnson's great-uncle, Craig Falanga, told The Baltimore Sun. "But if I had to pick one word, it's happy. He had the biggest smile you ever saw. … He was the sweetest, happiest, fun-loving little boy."

Last week at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School, Johnson was the Secret Kindness Agent. Principal Tammy O. Bosley told The Sun that, each week, the school counselor picks a mystery student to leave nice notes or small gifts for staff and students.

"He loved it," Bosley told the outlet.

This breaks my heart... 7-year-old Tripp Johnson lost his life in the crash today. The @HCPSchools 2nd grader was a Joppatowne Seahawk: "Your Seahawks family and the rest of this community are beyond heartbroken to lose such an innocent soul. #FlyHigh56" @WMAR2News pic.twitter.com/n1N6RbEeGn
— Abby Isaacs WMAR (@AbbyIsaacsNews) March 12, 2019

At the time of the crash, Johnson was in a car with his mother, Megan Fulleylove, 30, The Baltimore Sun reported. Fulleylove was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland State Police said.

Johnson was taken to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police added.

In a post on Twitter, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

"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," Hogan tweeted 0n Monday. "My deepest gratitude goes to the first responders who rushed to the scene."