Posted on 03/14/19
| News Source: WBAL TV
BEL AIR, Md. — Maryland State Police are still investigating a fiery crash that killed the president of a grocery store company and a 7-year-old boy.
WBAL-TV 11 News is learning more about both victims: Andrew Klein, 65, was someone who understood that basic needs were critical for people, and Tripp Johnson, 7, had a zest for life.
The beginning of a small tribute at the intersection of West Ring Factory Road and Route 24 in Bel Air. It honors the accident victims who died: Klein, the president of Klein's ShopRite and Tripp, a second-grader at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary. Both were passengers in separate cars when a ShopRite tractor-trailer plowed into stopped traffic. Monday's crash also included 11 other vehicles.
"Tripp hugged often. He laughed. Most of all, he made our days brighter," said Tammy Bolsey, principal of William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary.
Bosley said Tripp was well liked and had a zest for life. Counselors and psychologists are working with grieving students and staff.
"We did spend a lot of time with the younger students, where they had an opportunity to talk about all the ways they remember Tripp and celebrate the things they remembered about him most," said Bosler.
Klein is being remembered as a unique person, a Harford County philanthropist engaged in all kinds of issues and communities. Those included Baltimore, where his family opened this ShopRite store in 2014, ending a food desert in the Howard Park neighborhood.
"It's a huge loss for us and I don't know at this point what the ramifications will be long-term," said Mary Hastler, CEO of the Harford County Public Library. "He really did touch so many lives and people. I don't think people really understood what he did to change where they lived or where they worked or the library -- or the schools. He was just everywhere."
State police said finding the exact cause of the accident will take some time.
"According to our preliminary investigation, it does not seem that impairment was a factor in this crash," Maryland State Police spokesman Ron Snyder said. "It's an unfortunate confluence of events that ended in tragedy."
The boy's mother, Meagan Fullylove, remains in a hospital in serious condition. The truck driver was not injured. Police say they are trying to do a thorough investigation and not rush to any conclusions about the accident.
Information on Klein's funeral arrangements can be found here. And information on a fund for the Johnson family can be found here.