Loeffler campaign staff member, Kemp family friend dies in car crash

Family, friends and top state leaders are mourning the loss of a member of Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s campaign staff.

Harrison Deal died Friday at age of 20. The UGA junior died in a fiery car accident on Interstate-16, Pooler Police confirmed to Channel 2′s ABC affiliate WJCL in Savannah.

Deal served as Loeffler’s Athens Regional Field Director. He is also a family friend of the Kemp family. Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted a statement and photo of his family with Deal.

“Today, we lost a member of our “Kemp Strong” family and words cannot express how much Harrison Deal’s life, love and support meant to us. He was a person of deep faith, unmatched integrity, and incredible kindness. Harrison was the Kemp son and brother we never had,” Kemp said in a statement.

“Our prayers are with the Deal Family - and countless others - as they mourn the tragic loss of Harrison. He brought people together and made everyone feel important and special. 2020 has been marked by adversity, tragedy and pain. For the Kemp Family, weathering this storm will be the most difficult challenge yet.”

Both Loeffler and Gov. Brian Kemp canceled their appearances at a campaign event in Savannah with Vice President Mike Pence as they mourn the loss of Deal.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Harrison Deal. My heart aches for his family, and Jeff and I will continue to surround them in love and prayer in the days ahead. Harrison was a beloved member of our campaign team,” Loeffler said in a statement. “More importantly, Harrison was a smart, bright, loving, loyal and outstanding young man. Harrison embodied the very best of this campaign - and the very best of our state. We will forever cherish and honor Harrison’s memory, and I ask every Georgian to join us in praying for his family during this difficult time.”

Deal previously interned for Sen. David Perdue’s office in summer 2019. Perdue released the following statement Friday:

“Bonnie and I are devastated to learn of the passing of Harrison Deal, a young man from Bulloch County. Harrison interned in my Atlanta office in the summer of 2019, and was currently working as a field representative for Senator Loeffler’s campaign. He was a member of the University of Georgia Class of 2022. Harrison was a smart, kind young man with a bright future ahead of him, and he is gone too soon. We are praying for his parents, Curt and Jenni Deal, and his sisters, Hannah and Halli. I ask the people of Georgia to join us in keeping the entire Deal family in their hearts on this terrible day.”

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