By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Although Jonathan “Jonny” Thomas Richardson lost his life after a Saturday-night accident, he may be helping save the lives of others.
The family of the 14-year-old has donated his organs to people who need them, according to Lyerly Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements.
Richardson’s heart will be donated to a young man in New York City; a young man in Memphis, Tenn., will receive the teenager’s liver; and an organ recipient in Wake Forest will receive a kidney and pancreas.
Richardson died Sunday afternoon at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Authorities announced no new charges Monday against the driver in the Saturday wreck.
A N.C. Highway Patrol trooper said Sunday that Matthew Dale Bishop, 17, of Cleveland, had been charged with careless and reckless driving and a child-restraint violation in the accident, but could face more charges once Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kenerly reviewed the case.
Trooper Bradley Potts said Bishop lost control of his 1985 Nissan pickup on Potneck Road Saturday night and crashed, critically injuring friend and passenger Richardson, whose family lives on Gheen Road.
Potts consulted with Kenerly on Monday to determine other possible charges involving the death of Richardson. However, authorities didn’t release any information about further charges.
Meanwhile, staff and fellow students at North Hills Christian School, where Richardson attended, were pulling together, the head of the school said Monday afternoon.
“They are really drawing from deep within their faith,” Matt Mitchell said.
The biggest question on the students’ minds is why this had to happen, he said.
Trooper Potts said the accident happened shortly after Bishop and Richardson had picked up another friend, Michael Joseph Tansey, 15, of Potneck Road.
According to Potts, the truck went off the right side of the road. Bishop overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle.
The pickup turned over several times and Richardson was thrown from the truck. Bishop and Tansey remained inside the cab.
Richardson suffered a severe head injury.
None of the teens was wearing a seat belt, Potts said Sunday.
The trooper estimated the pickup’s speed at the time of the wreck to be 65 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Bishop suffered minor cuts and was not taken to the hospital. Tansey was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and later released.
There was no indication of alcohol being a factor in the crash, Potts said.
Many at North Hills Christian School received word of the accident from school staff. Richardson was a freshman at the school and played varsity basketball.
The school had programs Sunday and Monday to help students cope with the loss of their classmate.
Mitchell, the head of North Hills, said Richardson’s family told Bishop what happened was a mistake and they forgave him. Bishop was at the hospital when Richardson died.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kannapolis Church of God, 2211 W. “A” St., Kannapolis.
A funeral service will follow at 8 p.m. A graveside service and burial will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rowan Memorial Park.