Kenyan man killed while trying to help stalled truck

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Friday that Adrian Kinyanjui Njugana stopped in the intersection of Barco and Shortcut roads in Barco early Thursday to help the driver. 

While assisting with the stalled truck, another pickup truck hit Njugana, who died at the scene. The truck's driver was taken to a local hospital, where he was in serious condition Friday evening. 

Highway Patrol spokesman 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon said the driver of the stalled truck was intoxicated and will be charged with driving while impaired when he's released from a local hospital.

"He died doing what he loved to do," Njugana' friend Tony Mwaura said. "Somebody is in distress, he goes to help them out."

Njugana's family said Friday evening that he had been working for an auto parts store in north Raleigh and was making a delivery at the time of the accident. 

"Adrian was everything to us," John Njugana, his brother, said. "Everything he did, he did with a passion. I will forever miss him, he will always be my guardian angel."

Njugana, who was 33 years old, leaves behind a wife and 7-year-old son. 

Family and friends held a traditional Kenyan gathering Friday evening at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Raleigh and were expected to hold another prayer service at 7:45 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, at 2717 Overbrook Drive in Raleigh. 

Njugana's family said they are planning to return his body to Kenya for burial. To assist the family with funeral expenses, contributions can be made to Bank of America.