A Harnett County deputy died in a crash in a rural area north of Fayetteville on Tuesday, officials said. 

Harnett County schools posted a tribute to Deputy Chris Johnson Wednesday. (Harnett County Schools)

Deputy Chris Johnson, 51, was a school resource officer at Highland Middle School, according to the school system. He was on duty and headed home after his shift, officials said, when the accident occurred. 

"Harnett County Schools is deeply saddened by the death of Harnett County Deputy Sheriff Chris Johnson," the school system said. "We are grateful for his service to our students and staff. He will be missed."

Johnson died "in a serious multi-vehicular crash," officials said. He is survived by a wife and four children.

Grief counselors were on hand Wednesday, the school system said, as many dealt with the news. 

Flag in front of Highland Middle School lowered to half staff in honor of Deputy Chris Johnson. (Spectrum News 1/Patrick Thomas)

One of Johnson’s coworkers spoke to the SRO’s absence in the hallways a day after his death.

“Today was definitely a little different,” Andrew Carnegie said. “Especially for the custodial staff. We all joked with him and played with him.”

Carnegie, 28, is a custodian at Highland Middle School. The young janitor described Johnson as an approachable yet protective adult figure for the children. Carnegie said the SRO also kept up with major sports events and enjoyed fellowship.

“We were just talking about the Super Bowl and cooking out. Today was definitely one of those days that just,” Carnegie said, “we knew something was missing.”

Multiple Harnett County Sheriff's Office and middle school employees said Johnson was a visible, kind soul every school day at Highland Middle. 

“When I got there, he was at the front door welcoming kids, parents. Making sure everybody’s safe and doing what they are supposed to do. That’s probably one of those things that I can remember that he just…he was just really good at what he did man. He was good at what he did,” Carnegie said.

Johnson had been with the sheriff's office in Harnett County for 16 months. He also spent 15 years with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office, according to Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton. Before that, he was an officer with the Dunn Police Department for nine years.

"Chris was a shining example of a true public servant. He consistently went above and beyond to assist those he served," Thornton said. 

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash.

"A tractor-trailer was traveling west on Darroch Rd and was followed by a Dodge Durango. A marked Harnett County Sheriff's Office Dodge Charger was traveling east on Darroch Rd and crossed the center line and collided with the tractor-trailer," the Highway Patrol said.

"After impact, the patrol vehicle rotated in the roadway and struck the Dodge Durango that was behind the tractor-trailer," according to the Highway Patrol.

All three vehicles went off the road after the crash, Highway Patrol said. No one has been charged in the crash, but the investigation continues, officials said. 

Johnson died at the scene, according to investigators. The driver and a minor in the Dodge Durango were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt.

Tributes poured in from police departments and sheriff's offices around the state. 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in blue at the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. They have suffered a tragic loss of one of their own in the line of duty today due to a traffic accident," the Richmond County Sheriff's Office said on social media.

Late Wednesday evening, fellow HCSO staff and deputies decorated a squad car in Johnson’s honor. The SRO had more than 25 years of law enforcement experience at his time of death.

To help Johnson's family, Back The Blue NC has setup a GoFundMe page, which you can find and donate to here.

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