Larry House, 57, was a pastor at Celebration Community Church in Bordentown
EASTAMPTON -- A pastor of a Bordentown Township church was killed and his wife critically injured Sunday night when their motorcycle collided with an SUV in Eastampton, police said.
The 7:55 p.m. crash occurred when Larry and Leslie House, both 57, were riding a motorcycle through the intersection of Woodlane and Smithville roads, police said.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, but it appears Susan Deserio, 62, of Pennsylvania, failed to stop at the red light and struck the couple with her Subaru Forester.
She told police she could not see because of the sun glare. Charges have not been filed yet.
Larry House died from his injuries and his wife, Leslie, remains in critical condition at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, police said.
Larry House has served as a pastor at Celebration Community Church since 1991, according to his biography on the church's website. He was raised in East Windsor and graduated from Hightstown High School and Mercer County Community College before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.
His military service took the couple to central Florida, where he later took a job as a NASA subcontractor working with the Space Shuttle's launch systems.
House felt a calling to return to New Jersey in 1986. The couple joined the church in 1988 and House was ordained in 1991. For the last decade, they served as youth leaders and worked together in marriage counseling and teaching.
The couple has four daughters and six grandchildren.
House delivered a sermon Sunday during which he preached about trusting in the Lord "whether facing difficult days, calamity or heartbreak."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
