Candlelight vigil held for Hamilton boy killed in West Virginia collision

A candlelight vigil was held on Monday night for a Hamilton boy killed in a collision in West Virginia while heading home from vacation with his family last week.

Christopher Franklin, his brother Owen, his sister and parents were involved in a morning collision with a tractor-trailer on Nov. 10 on Interstate 79.

Owen remains in critical condition in hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. The children’s parents were treated for broken bones and their daughter is coping with “emotional trauma,” according to family friend Pavel Zvonov.

Zvonov — a colleague of the children’s father, Chris, who works as a GO Train conductor — has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the Franklin family.

The vigil was held at Mahoney Park in east hamilton where young Christopher played baseball with the Mahoney Bears from Tee-Ball days.

“It takes a community to show our support … and this family really needs the community right now to show how much we’re with them,” said organizer Brittany Kelly.

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