Brick Township Community Comes Together In Support Of Family After Deadly Maryland Plane Crash
By David Spunt
BRICK Twp., N.J., (CBS) -- Four days after a private plane crashed into a Maryland home, residents in Brick, New Jersey came together to remember the woman and two children inside the home.
On Monday, Marie Gemmell, 36, died along with her son Cole, 3, and infant son Devin after part of a plane crashed into their Gaithersburg Maryland home.
Gemmell is originally from Brick and her friends and former classmates gathered at River Rock Restaurant in her hometown to help raise money for her daughter and husband who were not home during the crash.
"She was a kind soul. She had a beautiful heart," friend Amy Upmal told Eyewitness News.
Upmal held a fundraiser at River Rock Restaurant in Brick Friday night. Upmal says any money raised will go directly to the Gemmell's daughter and husband.
"For that to happen to her, it's difficult to think about," said former classmate Evan Rizzitello.
Gemmell's friends from Maryland set up an online Go Fund Me page. The page has already reached over $475,000.
Police say after the plane crashed, Gemmell threw herself over her two sons. Officials say the three died from smoke inhalation.
"It's unbelievable that something like that could happen and she's a hero for trying to protect the two children while she could," said former classmate James Bright.
Authorities say the private plane was from North Carolina. Three others also died.
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