Trooper Baldridge remembered

VILLAGE OF CAREY, Ohio (WUPW) - VILLAGE OF CAREY, Ohio (WUPW) -- Carey Exempted Village School District Superintendent Mark Vehre said Friday that Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Andrew Baldridge had been living his dream before he was tragically killed Thursday evening outside of Carey.

No matter where you go in that town, everyone seems to have something good to say about Trooper Baldridge, who graduated from the high school in 2003.

Village residents said, simply put, he was a great person, the ideal role-model for kids with perfect manners, and he was on his way to being an amazing trooper.

Officer Baldridge was killed Thursday evening when he and Trooper Mark McLaughlin were responding to a mutual assist in Wyandot County. Their cruiser flipped over several times and trapped both of them.

Trooper Baldridge died at the scene while Trooper McLaughlin was air-lifted to Mercy St. Vincent in Toledo.

The American flag outside of Carey Schools flew at half staff Friday in memory of the 2003 graduate.

Gov. Ted Strickland ordered all state flags on Friday to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Trooper Baldridge. The governor will be in Carey on Monday for the funeral, which will take place at 11 a.m. at the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey.

Superintendent Vehre knew Trooper Baldridge had a bright future ahead saying, even in his yearbook picture you could tell he was destined to be a state trooper.

"You're not going to find a young man that was as respectful as he was," Vehre said. "And it was genuine. I mean it was an actual, genuine respect and caring for people."

In high school, Baldridge played basketball, football, and took part in track. Since graduation, he returned to the school district as a volunteer coach.

Baldridge's parents work in the school district. His father is a football coach while his mother is an aide. The superintendent spoke with his mother.

"She's handling it as well as I'm sure she can," he said. "I have a lot of admiration for her to to be able to come into the school like she did."

So when this news started spreading Thursday evening, school officials started their phone alert system to fill everyone in.

Counselors and coaches were available to talk to students Friday, because, Vehre said, no matter who you were, if you met Andrew, he had some impact on your life.

Superintendent Vehre said he can only imagine how much more good Baldridge could have done, if his life hadn't been cut short.

"There are people who go through a lifetime that haven't impacted the amount of people that this young man did in 25 years," Vehre said. "So, that's a legacy all by itself."

Gov. Strickland and the opportunity of meeting Trooper Baldridge, who graduated from the state academy in December 2009.

“Frances and I ask all Ohioans to join us in keeping Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Andrew Baldridge and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the governor said. "I had the opportunity to hear Trooper Baldridge speak at the recent cadet graduation, which was a tremendous honor bestowed upon him by his classmates. I was deeply impressed by his sincerity and thoughtfulness. This is a terrible tragedy and we offer our sincerest condolences to all those whose lives were touched by this young man.”

The 25-year-old Baldridge graduated as a member of the 149th Academy Class in December 2009. Trooper McLaughlin, 33, is a member of the 137th Academy Class.

“This is a tragedy for the Patrol and the Department of Public Safety, our young trooper’s family and all who knew and worked with this promising young man," said Colonel David W. Dicken, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent in a statement posted on the State Patrol's Web site.

"Our prayers go out to him and his family tonight, as well as to Trooper McLaughlin and his family,” Colonel Dicken added.

Trooper McLaughlin is a field training officer. He was discharged from Mercy St. V Friday after spending the night in fair condition.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

FOX Toledo News reporter Heather Miller contributed to this report