Jul 26, 2008 12:21 pm US/Pacific
Pastor's Son's Driving Death To Be Investigated
RIVERSIDE
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Christopher Laurie, son of popular pastor Greg Laurie, was killed Thursday morning when his car slammed into a CalTrans vehicle on the 91 Freeway.
CBS
The California Highway Patrol has assigned an investigation team to look into the fatal crash on the 91 Freeway Thursday morning that claimed the life of Christopher Laurie, the son of Greg Laurie, a well-known pastor, evangelist and leader of Harvest Christian Fellowship, it was reported Saturday.
Laurie, 33, was killed while driving to work in Riverside from his Huntington Beach home.
Laurie's vehicle struck a Caltrans truck on the eastbound Riverside (91) Freeway in Corona during the morning rush.
Laurie, the married father of one daughter with another child due in November, reportedly had a spotty driving history that included more than a dozen citations in Orange and Riverside counties since 2002, according to court records cited by the Press-Enterprise.
Laurie was driving alone at a high rate of speed in the eastbound carpool lane when he struck a Caltrans truck at the rear of a convoy of street sweeping vehicles moving at about 15 mph, according to the CHP.
The rear truck had a flashing arrow to warn drivers and had lowered its crash-arresting barrier, according to Caltrans. Pictures from the accident scene showed that Laurie's car hit so hard that it smashed through the crash arresters and crumpled into the truck's back axle and wheels.
Laurie was wearing a seat belt but he suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The in-depth investigation of the fatal crash may take two weeks or
more, CHP Officer George Ford Jr. told the newspaper.
By 11 a.m. Saturday, more than 11,000 condolences for Christopher Laurie had been posted on Pastor Greg Laurie's blog at www.harvest.org.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, where Christopher Laurie served as art director, has more than 15,000 members.
Members of the flock told KCAL 9's Greg Mills that Christopher was a fun, humble and charming man who never tried to trade-in on his dad's celebrity.
Laurie was charged with possession of a controlled substance in 2001,
but the conviction was dismissed after he successfully completed a court-
ordered drug program, according to court records cited by the Press-Enterprise.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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