By Joanna Putman
Police1
HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. — A deputy and school resource officer has died as a result of a crash in his cruiser, WRAL reported.
Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Johnson, 51, crossed over the center line of a road and hit a tractor-trailer on Feb. 6, according to the report. The impact of the hit spun Johnson’s cruiser, causing it to hit another car.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report. The driver and passenger of the other car were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was not injured.
Johnson had served the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office for 16 months, according to the report. He had served in law enforcement for 26 years.
Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, who was one of Johnson’s previous employers, told WRAL about an instance where Johnson helped a man who was being evicted to relocate.
“That was just the kind of person he was,” Thornton said. “He didn’t want to throw the guy out on the street because he had no family members. It’s a big loss. Due to the nature of his death, it’s really tragic.”
Johnson is survived by his wife and three children, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
“As we mourn the untimely loss of Deputy Johnson, we recognize the impact he has had on the community where he lived, but also the community in which he served,” the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office stated. “Please continue to pray for not only his family, but also those who he has impacted through his dedicated service to the Harnett County School System.”