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Family of Sanford man killed in wreck forgives other driver

Authorities said 50-year-old Larry Raines' Corvette was hit head-on by a truck whose driver, Israel Beltran, 39, was trying to recover from hitting black ice on Elliott Bridge Road. Charges are pending.

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SPRING LAKE, N.C. — The family of a Sanford man killed in a Thursday morning accident in Spring Lake said they have no anger toward the driver that caused the wreck.

Authorities said 50-year-old Larry Raines’ Corvette was hit head-on by a truck whose driver, Israel Beltran, 39, was trying to recover from hitting black ice on Elliott Bridge Road. Charges are pending.

Wavie Raines said he and his brother were on their way home from work at a Goodyear plant when the wreck happened. Wavie Raines is a curing operator there and his brother builds tires.

Wavie was following his brother’s Corvette and said he saw the accident happen.

“It was like ice out there. Everyone was skidding,” he said.

Wavie Raines said he saw an oncoming red truck fishtail and crash into his brother’s car.

When emergency responders reached the scene, Wavie Raines asked them about his brother’s condition.

“They said he didn’t have a pulse,” he said. “I just had to step back at that point.”

Wavie Raines said it was a hard thing to hear.

Larry Raines has eight siblings including a twin. He is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and grandchildren.

“He loved his family a lot. He was just a happy person,” Wavie Raines said.

The family said they hold no anger against Beltran.

“We can’t fault. We have to forgive, so that we can move on,” Wavie Raines said. “It’s just something that happens. It’s just unfortunate that it had to happen to a loved on.”

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