Assistant Pastor Struck, Killed Saturday On LBJ By Garbage Truck

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) -  A North Texas assistant Pastor died Saturday after he was hit by a garbage truck when his minivan stalled on the LBJ Freeway (I-635).

Austine Ogbiede was killed instantly after he stepped out of his vehicle to check a flat tire and was struck by a garbage truck.  His vehicle had stalled in the second lane from the left.

No charges are expected to be filed against the garbage truck driver.

Sunday, friends and family surrounded the victim's wife, Blessing Ogbiede and the two young sons, ages 3 and 5, that Ogbiede left behind.

"Before he left yesterday, he was talking about his kids," Blessing Ogbiede said. "How he wanted his kids to be raised in the house of God."

Austine Ogbiede had served many people over the years as an assistant pastor at Christ Embassy Church in Garland.

"You can call him any time of night and he picks up the phone, for counseling, for prayer," Blessing Ogbiede said.

John Sai, senior pastor at Christ Embassy Church, said Ogbiede was influential in helping to grow their church and reach out to hundreds of people.

Obgiede had recently talked about opening his own church, to reach out to more people.

At services this morning, people talked of the encouraging words Ogbiede often spoke to help others.

"He was a soul-winner. He was a very strong believer of what the word of God can do," Pastor Sai said.

Now police and the church family are urging safety along busy highways, telling drivers to call 911 rather than exit their vehicles.

Despite the tragic circumstances, one thing offers the family peace and comfort. "We know that definitely he is with the Lord," Sai said.

Charges are not expected to be filed against the driver.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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