Deceased Driver Identified
Posted/updated on: March 13, 2011 at 5:23 pm
TYLER – Tyler police have identified the man killed in a Thursday accident as a student at Tyler Junior College. He is Randy DeShawn Smith, 19, of Groveton Texas. The accident happened shortly after 4:15 Thursday afternoon at the intersection of University Boulevard and Patriot Drive.
Witnesses tell investigators a GMC SUV and a Ford SUV, driven by Smith, were westbound on University with the Ford in the inside lane and the GMC in the outside lane. According to investigators, Smith attempted to turn right onto Patriot and turned into the path of the GMC. The vehicles collided and the Ford overturned and caught fire. Two bystanders tried to rescue the driver of the burning vehicle but were unable to before the vehicle was engulfed with flames.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the GMC SUV were treated for minor injuries. The two witnesses that attempted the rescue were burned.
