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HOWLAND -- Counselors will be available today at H.C. Mines Elementary School after a student was killed in a crash Monday afternoon in Geauga County.
Chloe Trupa, 9, of Warren, was a passenger in a 2018 Honda Civic driven by her father, James E. Gray, 72, when it crossed the center line on state Route 528 in Parkman just after 5:30 p.m., according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The northbound Honda struck a southbound 2008 Pontiac G6 head on.
Trupa and Gray were pronounced dead at the scene, the patrol report states, and the other driver, Anthony O'Malley, 48, also of Warren, died at University Hospital Geaguga Medical Center. The patrol said neither Trupa nor Gray were wearing their seatbelts, and O'Malley was wearing his seatbelt.
A preliminary report said alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
Chloe was a third-grader at H.C. Mines, according to Howland School Superintendent Kevin Spicher.
"We heard about it early (Tuesday) morning and have already started to act out the intervention crisis plan," Spicher said Tuesday evening. "This is the same procedure we'd use for any tragedy."
Spicher said the school will focus on caring for those who knew Chloe most, including her classmates and teachers. The counselors and services will be available to everyone in the building.
He said Chloe will be missed by her classmates, friends and teachers. Kelly Barnes, an art teacher at Howland Springs Primary School, said she knew Chloe well. Barnes taught the girl last year and said Chloe was very well-liked by her classmates.
"She was always drawing; she was very artistic. It's incredibly sad," said Barnes. "It's so sad for her family, her peers and for the Howland family."
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