According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the off-duty officer is expected to face a misdemeanor charge, and the pastor had preached his final sermon hours before the crash.
HARNETT COUNTY, NC - October 20, 2026
A pastor was killed in a Saturday night crash on the Johnston County/Harnett County line while driving church members home after a revival service, according to ABC11 News. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says the church van was struck by a vehicle driven by an off-duty Durham police corporal.
Key Facts
- Date: Saturday night (exact date not reported)
- Location: Old Stage Road at its intersection with NC Highway 210, on the border between Johnston and Harnett counties
- Type of crash: Collision between a church van and another vehicle
- Vehicles involved: A church van and a vehicle driven by an off-duty Durham police officer
- Injuries / fatalities: One death reported; no injury count was given
- Responding agencies: North Carolina State Highway Patrol
- Reported by: ABC11 News
Crash Overview
Heath, a pastor for many years, had previously worked as a Wayne County sheriff's deputy. He was also a husband, father and grandfather, and his family and church leaders are now grieving his death. He was killed while driving church members home from a revival service in Harnett County.
According to the state patrol, Cpl. Joseph King, who was off duty and works for the Durham Police Department, allegedly failed to stop for a red light and hit the church van. On Monday, the agency said King will be charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Heath preached what would become his final sermon hours before the crash. His son-in-law, Chad Smith, who is an associate pastor at Heath's church in Mount Olive, said the message focused on the account of Lazarus. Smith said he normally would have driven the van that night but stayed behind to prepare for a Pastor Appreciation celebration planned for the next morning. The congregation gathered Sunday to mourn instead.