Funeral, procession held for state trooper killed in western NC crash

Horton was working a traffic stop at High Shoals Church Road and Goodes Grove Church Road around 9 p.m. when he was struck by a car driven by his brother, who is also a state trooper, according to Sgt. Chris Knox.

Trooper James N. Horton was responding to the traffic stop to help his brother but lost control of his vehicle and struck his brother and a driver, Dusty Luke Beck, 26, of South Carolina, who were both standing along the roadside.

John Horton was transported to a Spartanburg hospital, where he died of his injuries. Beck died at the scene, according to authorities.

At 11 a.m. on Friday, a procession of law enforcement vehicles will escort John Horton's body from Harrelson Funeral Services in Forest City to Isothermal Community College, where a funeral service will be held at 5 p.m.

A private burial service will be held for family members after the funeral.

The public will be able to line up along the processional route to honor the trooper.

John Horton leaves behind a wife and six children.