Cortney Barnett, 17, of Cranberry Township gets a hug from her 4-year-old sister, Rachel Barnett. Cortney helped to raise about $4,300 for Nicole Morrison and her 4-year-old son, Ethan, who survived an accident in April that killed his brother, sister and father. The Morrisons, who also lived in Cranberry, died nearly four years to the day after Cortney's mother was killed in a car accident.

CRANBERRY TWP — The April 13 traffic accident that killed Spencer Morrison and two of his young children struck Cortney Barnett's heart.

On April 15, 2002, almost four years ago to the day, the 17-year-old Seneca Valley High School student's mother died in a car accident.

As a teen who tragically lost a parent, Barnett had to do something for the Morrisons, who live in Cranberry Township. She helped to raise about $4,300.

"It hit me close," said Barnett, who also lives in Cranberry with her stepmother, father and 4-year-old sister, Rachel.

On April 13, a wood chipper being towed by a truck broke loose on Route 8 in Richland Township, Allegheny County, and struck Morrison's van. Since then, thousands of dollars have been raised for Spencer's wife, Nicole, and her surviving 4-year-old son, Ethan.

"Cortney was very affected," said Barnett's stepmother, Jennifer. "She said 'I want to do something for them. What can I do?'"

Since Barnett's stepmother is involved with the Cranberry Township Athletic Association, that seemed the best place to look for donations.

Barnett and two other Seneca Valley students, Jen Poleti and Danielle McKinney, collected about $4,300 at the Athletic Association's annual photo day for community softball and baseball teams.

They and other students sat for eight hours on April 22 and five hours on April 23 accepting donations for the Morrison family. Many residents had heard of the table beforehand, and came prepared to contribute to the family. Some gave up to $100 to the cause.

"They were very giving. Everyone was excited there was something they could do," said Barnett.

She said the community was "in complete shock" after the accident.

The money she collected joins thousands of dollars raised in an ongoing outpouring of community support.

Brian Anderson of Hampton, Allegheny County, sold his 1993 Chevrolet Corvette to benefit the Morrison family. He sold it through Tom Henry Chevrolet in Richland Township.

The car sold for $21,000, and the dealership employees collected $1,870 for the family, according to the dealership. That company charged no fees or commission on the sale of the Corvette.

At the North Allegheny School District, where Nicole Morrison teaches, more than $14,500 has been raised through the district's nine schools and the North Allegheny Federation of Teachers, according to a press release.

That figure includes about $4,000 raised by 81 walkers from students and staff at Marshall Elementary School at the annual March of Dimes Walk America.

Also, the teachers' federation gave Nicole Morrison sick days from other teachers to use up until the end of the school year. Teachers at Hosack Elementary School filled in for Marshall elementary teachers so those teachers could attend the family service in April.

"Our teachers have rallied behind Nicole in many personal ways. We are a family and we take care of each other. We are taking care of Nicole and Ethan," Federation of Teachers president Barbara Hutchinson said in a press release.

Seneca Valley Middle School students collected donations during lunch periods. Over the course of a week, they collected $681, said Seneca Valley spokeswoman Linda Andreassi.

The Cranberry Rotary Club donated $1,500 to the Morrison family. The money came from a vocational scholarship that no one applied for this year, so club members donated the money.

"We thought the family fund would be the best place for the money," said Andreassi, who is also an executive board member of the club.