'Live like Ryan': Town of Knightdale honors officer killed by suspected drunk driver

The town of Knightdale came together Saturday to pay tribute to the life and service of Officer Ryan Hayworth.

Hayworth was killed in 2021 when his patrol car was struck by a suspected drunk driver. Before joining the Knightdale police, Hayworth was a member of the National Guard and did a tour in Kuwait.

Hayworth was 23 when he died.

The memorial started with a 5k run in the rain at 8 a.m.

The rain wasn’t enough to stop people from living like Ryan, just like the name of the 5k run.

“Ryan loved every one of you,” his mother, Lisa Naylor Hayworth said. “I know he’s smiling down going ‘Mom, this is for me.’ Thank you all so much and please, live like Ryan.”

Later Saturday, Knightdale Bridge over I-540 was renamed Ryan Hayworth Bridge.

“We miss Ryan so bad,” Tim Hayworth, Ryan’s father, said. “We have to carry on. Our job now is to spread the message of his legacy. Live like Ryan in the service of others.”

Knightdale’s police chief, along with town and state representatives, attended the dedication.