The tragic death of a North Carolina pastor who preached about heaven just hours before entering eternity has taken another turn, as the police officer involved in the deadly collision has now lost his job.
According to The Christian Post, the Durham Police Department fired Joseph King, 52, following the crash that claimed the life of Apostle Justin Heath, 67.
King, who had served with the department since 2010, faces charges of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle after investigators determined he allegedly drove through a red light and struck the church van Heath was driving.
The collision overturned the van, killing Heath and injuring several others, including his wife, Lynn.
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As Charisma previously reported, Heath had just finished preaching a revival message about Lazarus’ death and resurrection. During what would become his final sermon, Heath spoke about Lazarus’ death and resurrection and proclaimed, “I can’t wait to get to heaven.”
Shortly after, the beloved minister was gone.
Now, as King faces the consequences of the deadly crash, Heath’s final message remains a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change and the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ alone.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
