KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Community members gathered Sunday to honor the memory of a middle school principal killed last week when a car crashed into a local restaurant.
A candlelight vigil was held at Tomato Head restaurant in West Knoxville.
The ceremony was held to remember Deborah Thompson, 58, a Bledsoe County middle school principal.
She was killed Thursday when Dewayne Edward Kelley, 53, of Knoxville, lost control of his car and plunged into the restaurant.
Thompson was struck and killed while she was checking out at the register.
About 25 people, including employees, attended the ceremony Sunday.
Restaurant employees say the accident has had a traumatic and profound affect on them. Many say they were in the restaurant when Thompson was killed.
A pair of Deborah's long-time friends were also there to express their grief.
Tomato Head will use a portion from this past weekend's sales to create a memorial for Thompson.
Deborah Thompson had been battling cancer before being killed in the wreck.
