Local

U.S. Marine from Champaign County dies days after marrying sweetheart

A 20-year-old U.S. Marine from Champaign County died in a motorcycle crash only days after marrying his high school sweetheart.

Brandon Laughman, a 2015 Graham High School graduate, died as a result of injuries he sustained in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash that happened June 12 in San Diego, where he was stationed as an active duty U.S. Marine.

MORE: Urbana community program teaches children how to be safe

Laughman was planning to return home soon to his wife, Kaytlin Laughman, who graduated from Graham this year, said Kaytlin’s mother Nickey Maddy.

>> Read more trending stories

Brandon was due for a visit home soon and the couple had planned to take a road trip honeymoon on their return to California, Maddy said.

“They had only been married for 10 days,” Maddy said. “They had dated for three years... They absolutely adored each other. They had something very special.”

MORE: Mother who foregives daughter's killer fights for his release

Brandon was a member of a car club in San Diego. Several members of the club gathered to pay tribute to him at a makeshift memorial at the crash site. The club recorded a video tribute with a motorcycle and several custom vehicles traveling down the road in the evening.

Brandon’s body is being prepared to be transported back to Ohio for a full military funeral and service according to the family.

We continue to gather more details on this developing story.

To get news and weather updates, download our free apps here.

0
Comments on this article