Scores say goodbye to Trooper Baldridge

VILLAGE OF CAREY, Ohio (WUPW) - VILLAGE OF CAREY (WUPW) -- Hundreds of loved ones, friends, Gov. Ted Strickland, and law enforcement from across Ohio and other states said goodbye to Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Andrew Baldridge on Monday, nearly four days after he was killed while on duty responding to a call.

Trooper Baldridge was laid to rest in his hometown in the Village of Carey.

The village was shut down because everyone, it seemed, was at the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation for the funeral and burial to pay respect to the 25-year-old who spent his whole life in Carey.

"The fact that everyone is taking this so hard, is just a true testament to how what a wonderful person he was," said Renee Hess, a Carey resident.

"It really warms your heart," added Wyandot County Sheriff Mike Hetzel, who knew Trooper Baldridge a long time.

Baldridge was killed Feb. 4 when he and Trooper Mark McLaughlin were responding to a mutual assist call in Wyandot County. Their cruiser flipped over several times and trapped both of them. The accident took place on Township Highway 95 near Township Highway 27 / Brown Road in Ridge Township, southwest of the Village of Carey.

Trooper Baldridge died at the scene while Trooper McLaughlin was air-lifted to Mercy St. Vincent in Toledo. McLaughlin was discharged Feb. 5 from Mercy St. V Friday after spending the night in fair condition.

"It is family, because it's home, and these are the guys you work and play with every day," Sheriff Hetzel said. "They are your friends. Just the camaraderie is unbelievable. Andy wanted to be more than a trooper. His goal was that he was going to be colonel of the State Highway Patrol."

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.