Franklin crash victim, 20, remembered as ‘amazing person’

A 20-year-old woman who died in a head-on crash in Franklin Saturday was on her way home from celebrating her 1-year wedding anniversary a day early, according to a longtime friend.

Courtney Trent and James Daley, 20, both of Franklin Twp., had dropped off their 6-month-old son at a relative’s house in West Carrollton and were driving home from dinner when the collision occurred that killed Trent, according to Melanie Barker, 19, who said she had been friends with her for six years.

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Barker, who said she cannot come to terms with her friend’s death, remembered her as “an amazing person.”

“She had a heart of gold and she was there for everyone,” Barker said of the 2014 Franklin High School graduate. “She was just so bubbly and wanted to have fun and make friends.”

Trent died after a Toyota Highlander crashed into the Pontiac G6 in which she was riding just before 9:01 p.m. at Ohio 123 near Beal Road and Shotwell Drive in Warren County, according to a release from the Lebanon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

In a preliminary investigation, state troopers said Corey Kappus, 18, of Franklin, was driving south on Ohio 123 when he fell asleep and the vehicle veered off the right side of the road. Kappus’ Toyota then went left of center and struck the Pontiac head-on.

Trent was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers said Daley, who was driving the Pontiac, was taken to Atrium Medical Center. His condition was not released Sunday night.

Kappus also was taken to Atrium Medical Center with unknown injuries and has since been released.

The crash remains under investigation, but speed and the absence of a seat belt are considered contributing factors in the crash, according to troopers.

Barker said Trent was not only “an amazing person,” but also an amazing mother to 6-month-old son, James Daley III, who appeared with his mother in numerous photos she posted to social media.

“Watching her with her son was like watching her be completed,” Barker said. “She just radiated when she was around that baby. Motherhood looked so good on her.”

Trent would want people to keep her memory alive by having fun and being happy “because she was such a happy person,” she said.

“She would want people to remember just her being happy, her laugh,” Barker said. “Her laugh was so contagious.”

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