The Huffington Post
A car accident has claimed the life of a season 2 “American Idol” contestant. Rickey E. Smith, Jr. was killed in a multi-car crash in Oklahoma Friday morning.
Amy Elliott of the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the news. Smith was 36 years old and Elliott cites multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of the singer’s death.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a driver who was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 240 struck and killed Smith. The motorist was identified as 27-year-old Gerardo Cerda, Jr. He was later hospitalized and later charged with a DUI, after troopers smelled alcohol around Cerda.
Smith’s death was also confirmed by his family.
Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of “Idol,” posted a message about Smith’s death on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFEv45UH85a/
