Rickey Smith, a Top 10 finalist from Season 2 of American Idol, was killed early Friday on a highway in Oklahoma City when his car was struck by a wrong-way driver. He was 36.
Smith was eastbound on Interstate 240 south of the city shortly after 3 a.m., when his Honda Accord was hit head-on by a pickup truck that was westbound in the eastbound lanes, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report on the crash.
Smith, who was living in Oklahoma City, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck was identified as Gerardo Cerda Jr, 27, of Oklahoma City. He was taken to a hospital with head and internal injuries, then released and arrested.
The crash report said investigators smelled the odor of alcohol on Cerda; charges are being considered.
"You bring pride to Oklahoma, you bring recognition to Oklahoma we're excited for your achievements," said then secretary of state Susan Savage.
Longtime friend Corey Sutter, a barber known as Scissorhands, remembers his friend's time on American Idol well.
"Next thing you know he's on the show and doing big things. Then everybody started to know him from 'Hercules! Hercules!" Sutter said.
Just last week FOX 25's Malcolm Tubbs visited Scissorhands at his barber shop Fade 'N Up. Inside the shop was Smith and his daughter.
"Another thing! This is my boy Rickey Smith! Remember American Idol, he was on that with Ruben Studdard!" Sutter said during the segment. "I never knew that was the last day I was going to see him. He's the best person I ever met in my life."
Sutter says Smith will be known for his goodness and is already very missed.
"Death doesn't discriminate against nobody. So when you're out here, live your life like its your last, enjoy your life, tell your family you love them, kids and everything," Sutter said.
No comments:
Post a Comment