Community raising money for family of bus driver killed in crash

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. — Family and friends are paying their final respects to a longtime bus driver who was tragically killed when her school bus was struck from behind on Route 22 in Derry Township on Monday.

Deborah Bopp and Tammy Shields drove for the same bus company for over 20 years. Shields told Channel 11 that she and Bopp became more than co-workers--they became friends.

"And we would sit there for over an hour and we would talk about everything. She took me on really bad days and made me laugh. That's what Debbie was all about,” Shields said.

Shields said Bopp was a family woman, had a love for horses and had a personality that was contagious.

"She would make you laugh in a heartbeat. She was always there to help somebody. If you needed an ear, shoulder... she was there and she cared so much about her kids,” Shields said.

RELATED: School bus driver killed in crash with coal truck on Route 22

The community that Bopp served for over 20 years is now giving back to her.

"That's what we do here in a small town. We help the community out, any kind of positive aspect of the community. That's what I do,” said Michelle Vokes of the Blairsville Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Friends and strangers are hosting a fundraiser next month at the Blairsville VFW. They hope to raise enough money to help Bopp’s family cover her funeral expenses.

"It's gonna help out another member in the community. It's gonna help a family in need. And I think she'd be proud we're helping her family in their time of need," Vokes said.

The fundraiser will be held on May 13 from noon to 5 p.m. It will be a spaghetti dinner with a basket raffle and door prizes. The cost is $10 at the door and children under 5 are free.

All proceeds benefit the Bopp family.

Cox Media Group