NC pastor killed in late Friday crash, suspect charged

CREEDMOOR, N.C. — A congregation in North Carolina is in mourning after their pastor died in a crash late Friday night, according to our news partner WTVD. 

Dr. Marc Tilley of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was killed after a large truck rear-ended his vehicle. His wife, who was driving the car, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Police charged Clifton Alexander Smith Jr. with failure to decrease speed as necessary to avoid colliding with another vehicle and failure to stop for a stop light.

Smith was also charged with no operator's license for class of vehicle driven.

The church's website said Tilley served Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for 18 years.

Tilley graduated from North Carolina State University. He received his Masters of Divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He later studied at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Doctor of Ministry degree.

WTVD reported Tilley and his wife were married for 34 years.

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