Local News

Hundreds grieve at vigil for Clayton High grads killed in crash

Hundreds of friends, family and community members attended an emotional, impromptu vigil Monday evening for three recent graduates of Clayton High School who were killed in a Raleigh crash this weekend.

Posted Updated

RALEIGH, N.C. — Hundreds of friends, family and community members attended an emotional, impromptu vigil Monday evening for three recent graduates of Clayton High School who were killed in a Raleigh crash this weekend.

State troopers said Devin Mosteller, 21, was driving an SUV near the Battle Bridge Road intersection around 8 p.m. Saturday when he overcorrected, ran off the road and slammed into a tree. 

He and both passengers – Christopher Pretty, 18, and Adonis Banks, 19 – were killed.

Friend Matt Bunn said the deaths came as a shock and that he helped organize the vigil so that everyone who knew the men could mourn together.

"When you are in a time of need, there is no need to go about it alone and worry yourself," he said. "I think it is better if we all come together and fight it together."

Friends shared stories and focused on good times while remembering their tragic loss. 

"I see him (Pretty) smiling, and that is all you can really think about," Bunn said.

Banks' father, Nilous Banks, said he always told his son how much he meant to him.

"It's a tragic thing that happened, but at the same time, we always told each other we loved each other," he said.

Troopers have not said what caused the fatal crash, but they do believe speed was a factor.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.