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Posted: September 15, 2009

Memorial planned for groom killed on wedding day

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Karen Taylor and Christopher Raynor

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Karen Taylor and Christopher Raynor

Raleigh, N.C. — Friends and family will gather Thursday evening to mourn a Raleigh man killed just hours before his wedding.

Christopher Raynor, 28, of 9240 Bruckhaus St., was headed to breakfast with his groomsmen Saturday, according to Father Salvatore Busichio, who planned to officiate Raynor's wedding.

Raynor was scheduled to marry Karen Taylor at Raleigh's Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Church.

He was riding in the backseat of his best man's car when another driver ran a red light and crashed into them at the intersection of Lumley and Westgate roads around 7:30 a.m., authorities said. A third vehicle then ran over Raynor, according to a police report.

Police charged James Howard Early, of 17 Lynwood Road in Asheville, with a red light violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

A memorial service is planned for 7 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, with a graveside service to follow Friday at 11 a.m. at Raleigh Memorial Park and Mitchell Funeral Home.

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh

Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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12 Comments


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Latest Comments
He was not 17, that was his house address
weez
September 16, 2009 11:55 a.m.
Was he in a convertible?
scfair
September 15, 2009 4:43 p.m.
How awful. Also, why is this only a misdemenor? Seriously, the kid killed someone!! Seems like there should be a larger penalty than something that will probably be sealed when he turns 18 anyway!
Click to view my profile HappyGirl08
September 15, 2009 4:42 p.m.
Where Glenwood routes traffic down across Westgate to get on 540 where the driver was probably heading back to Asheville is a very dangerous intersection. People are already going fast when they come down the hill, and suddenly there's a stoplight there so inevitably they're going to run it. Repeat: They are going fast when they come down that hill to cross Westgate and suddenly there's a stoplight there. The Asheville driver is probably not familiar with this intersection. What this is, which we are seeing more and more tragedy because of it, is a poor design, which that intersection always has been even before they put a bridge over Westgate. They never should have routed the traffic down, then up again like a roller coaster on a major highways and put a stop light in the middle of it. This tragedy didn't have to happen. I don't believe it is all the Asheville driver's fault because of poor design of the highway. It's like driving in a dangerous maze.
Kristen168
September 15, 2009 4:24 p.m.
TRAGIC!!
Click to view my profile StanleyCup
September 15, 2009 3:53 p.m.
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