RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — Flags will fly at half-staff across North Carolina in honor of Harnett County Deputy Sheriff Chris Johnson who died in a crash on Tuesday.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s office issued the order for all state and U.S. flags at state facilities to be flown at half-staff from Thursday morning to sunset on Friday.
Just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, a marked Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Dodge Charger was heading east on Darroch Road, near N.C. 210, in Harnett County when it crossed the center line and crashed into a tractor-trailer that was heading west, according to WNCN. The Charger then hit a Dodge Durango that was behind the tractor-trailer.
Harnett County Deputy Chris Johnson, 51, died at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt, and the driver and minor passenger of the Dodge Durango suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office described Johnson as a “law enforcement veteran.” He had been with the sheriff’s office for a year and four months and worked as a school resource officer at Highland Middle School in Sanford. He previously worked for the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and Dunn Police Department. In total, he had a combined 25 years of service.
Cooper said in a statement, “I was deeply saddened to receive the news of the passing of Harnett County Deputy Sheriff Chris Johnson. Deputy Sheriff Johnson served the state and his community with distinction and honor, and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The state invites all North Carolinians to join in lowering flags in his honor.
