Vigil honors four killed in fiery Sanford crash

According to the State Highway Patrol, Aaron David Powers, 31, of Sanford, Katherine May Powers, 35, of Sanford, Christopher Gray Baker, 33, of Broadway, and Rebecca Lynn Powell, 38, of Chapin, S.C., died in the wreck in the 600 block of Swanns Station Road, near Dixie Farm Road, around 2:30 a.m.

Aaron and Kathy Powers had been married for seven years and had three children, relatives said Saturday. Baker and Powell had been dating for a few months and friends described them as loving and kind. 

Powell leaves behind two children and Baker leaves behind one.

Troopers said Aaron Powers was driving a 2006 Dodge Charger at least 90 mph when it ran off the left side of the road and hit a mailbox and trees. It then overturned several times, crashed into the house and burst into flames.

Authorities said that the bodies were burnt so badly that the medical examiner might not be able to perform toxicology tests. None of the passengers were wearing seat belts.

The house was vacant.

The vigil was held Monday evening at a boat ramp off Avents Ferry Road in Chatham County, close to the Lee County line, a place where friends say the couples often hung out.

"This is a spot that they loved, a familiar spot," said Kaye Johnson, a longtime friend of Kathy Powers.

She said the couple and their children were a "strong family unit" and that she's going to miss everything about her friend.

"Kathy and Aaron, I've never seen two people love each other more," said Brandy Garner, a friend of the couples. "They'd give you everything. They'd give you the shirt off their back. They'd give you their last dime, and that's how I want them remembered, not as the people of the fatal car crash or that were speeding. I want them remembered as somebody's loved ones, somebody's friends."