Nine days after 32-year-old Cory Vernon lost his life in a crash on Interstate 35 near Toepperwein Road, his family mourned him with a celebration of life.
The celebration started with a procession full of tow trucks, cars and motorcycles. It ended with friends and family swapping stories of the man that brought them together.
Vernon was killed on March 3rd around 7 a.m. after his bike collided with a car on I-35 near Toepperwein Road.
Live Oak police said both the motorcyclist and the driver of the car were heading north on the highway when they tried to merge into the same lane in front of an 18-wheeler. The car ended up hitting the motorcycle from behind, police said.
Vernon died at the scene from his injuries.
“It was the first moments of the worst day of my life,” Synthya “Syndy” Vernon, Cory’s wife, said.
At the celebration of life, Vernon was described as a man who wore many hats and had many talents. He was said to be a jokester, mediator, mechanic and most of all, everyone’s go-to problem solver.
“If there was anything, we’d call him and he was always there to help us. He would drop what he was doing even if he was sleeping. If we called him, he’d answer,” said Vernon’s mom and sisters.
Vernon leaves behind his wife, a young daughter and two stepchildren.
KSAT called and emailed Live Oak police but has not received an update on the crash. At last check, it is still under investigation, and no one involved is facing any charges.