A woman set to marry over the weekend has shared her grief after a wrong-way collision in New York claimed the life of her fiancé. Kirk Walker and his cousin, Rob McLaurin, were travelling on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Harlem when a pickup truck sped towards them in the wrong lane.
The tragic incident occurred around 2:20am local time as both men returned from Kirk’s bachelor party. Both lost their lives in the crash. Kirk, aged 38, was scheduled to marry Shauntea Weaver at the Royal Manor wedding venue in Garfield, New Jersey, the following day.
Shauntea expressed her sorrow, stating, “I should be in my wedding dress right now — not mourning.” “This feels like a TV show, and I keep expecting to wake up and return to my real life. Every hour brings a new wave of emotions,” she added. The wedding, planned for 5pm on Sunday, August 25, was cancelled. A venue representative confirmed the cancellation was due to ‘a fatal crash.’
SAW HER DREAM DIE
Bride at hospital for groom’s last moments after kin tried to save himhttps://t.co/VM9naA3TBj pic.twitter.com/cKnfRA93D5— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 27, 2024
Shauntea reflected on the loss, saying, “He died 24 hours before our wedding. It’s devastating, not just for me, but also for his three children who adored him. They are heartbroken.” She described Kirk as a ‘generous, hard-working man’ with ‘a heart of gold,’ always willing to help others.
The couple had built a successful car rental business together. “He put his blood, sweat, and tears into it — we both did,” she noted. The pickup truck driver and a passenger fled the scene after the crash. Police located the passenger, but the search for the driver continues. Investigators are working to identify who was driving on Saturday morning.
Shauntea is determined to seek justice. “Detectives assured me they would do everything possible to get justice.” “They have the driver’s DNA from the airbags. The passenger, who is hospitalised with broken legs, needs to come forward.” “Two lives were lost in a reckless car crash. They must be held accountable for killing two innocent people,” she urged. “Nothing can bring him back, but we are pursuing justice.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- People reports on a tragic car crash where groom-to-be Kirk Walker and his cousin Robert McLaurin were killed by a wrong-way driver just one day before their wedding.(read more)
- Adomonline.com reports a bride’s devastating experience as her groom dies in a tragic car accident just one day before their wedding.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to the groom in New York?
Kirk Walker died in a wrong-way crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Harlem.
When was Kirk Walker supposed to get married?
Kirk Walker was supposed to get married the day after the crash, on Sunday, August 25.
Who else died in the crash?
Kirk Walker’s cousin, Rob McLaurin, also died in the crash.
What is Shauntea Weaver seeking after the crash?
Shauntea Weaver is seeking justice for the deaths of Kirk Walker and Rob McLaurin.
What happened to the driver of the pickup truck?
The driver fled the scene and police are still investigating who was behind the wheel.