RIP Wes Rucker

[Inky_Wretch]

Killed in a multi-car wreck on I-40 today. He covered the Volunteers for a variety of Tennessee outlets over the years. Good guy. When everyone was on Twitter, he was one of the guys you had to follow if you were interested in the SEC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/s/PN1AaG5xdK

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Name sounds familiar. Was he a member on this board?

 

[TigerVols]

Yes, he was.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Jesus this is terrible. Became Facebook friends with him via this joint because he just seemed like one of those people who would be fun to know a little in real life too. The car crash seems especially awful and random...not that anything else would be any less awful and random, but Jesus. He was Tweeting about the Olympics just a few hours ago. Leaves behind a son and a pregnant wife. Awful awful awful. RIP Wes.

 

[Here me roar]

Tragic. I don't remember who he was on this board but I know I followed him on Twitter before I tanked my account there. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

Interstate traffic in Knoxville can be truly terrifying. Wes was so young, with a young family, a second child on the way. Devastating.

 

[Cosmo]

Brutal, brutal news. He covered Chattanooga football for the Times Free Press before he went to Knoxville, and I had a chance to share a press box with him during my first year on the Liberty beat when the Mocs came to Lynchburg in 2005. He was a hell of a writer and reporter. Can't imagine what his family is going through right now. RIP.

 

[dixiehack]

Interstate traffic in Knoxville can be truly terrifying. Wes was so young, with a young family, a second child on the way. Devastating.

The details of his wreck sound similar to mine, except mine was on a 45 mph two-lane and his was suburban interstate. There but for the grace of God …

He was a good, good dude on here. Terrible tragedy.

 

[Driftwood]

Where the wreck happened is a white-knuckle nightmare seven days a week. Decades ago when 640 was conceived, it was truly a bypass around downtown Knoxville. The problem is, Knoxville grew west. Papermill and 640 come together to spit out tons of traffic leading into West Hills and Cedar Bluff. I can easily see why it happened.

 

[dixiehack]

Where the wreck happened is a white-knuckle nightmare seven days a week. Decades ago when 640 was conceived, it was truly a bypass around downtown Knoxville. The problem is, Knoxville grew west. Papermill and 640 come together to spit out tons of traffic leading into West Hills and Cedar Bluff. I can easily see why it happened.

I would rather drive I-40 downtown 10 out of 10 times than the stretch from 640 to Lovell Road, and really on into Farragut by this point.

 

[Driftwood]

I would rather drive I-40 downtown 10 out of 10 times than the stretch from 640 to Lovell Road, and really on into Farragut by this point.

There should be a true bypass from Straw Plains to Farragut.

 

[Songbird]

Condolences to the Rucker family and may his memory be a blessing to all who love and cherish Wes.

 

[MileHigh]

Just tragic. Condolences to the family, who no doubt are experiencing absolute anguish.

 

[TigerVols]

Wes Rucker, longtime Tennessee sports journalist, dies at 43

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Tragic. I don't remember who he was on this board but I know I followed him on Twitter before I tanked my account there. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

There was a Wes Rucker who hadn't posted in a decade. Don't know if he ever made a different account.

 

[TigerVols]

Yes, he was.

Didn’t mean to be coy, I just couldn’t recall his name. But a search of my DMs has reminded me of his handle. I think he wouldn’t mind me revealing it under these sad circumstances.

He was Hammer Pants.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Wes Rucker, longtime Tennessee sports journalist, dies at 43

****, his wife is pregnant, too?

I can't even.

 

[Dyno]

There’s a GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/532fe1f8d

 

[BTExpress]

Rucker's determination was evident in every part of his life. At 32, he had a stroke and had to learn to walk again. He was a passionate advocate for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital inspired by his family’s journey navigating his son's health challenges.

Jeez.

From the gofundme:

In this recent time of a job transition, Wes did not currently have a life insurance policy.

 

[John]

There’s a GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/532fe1f8d

It says a lot about Wes, who I knew, worked with for a bit, and liked, that the GoFundMe already has over $250K. He was a really good guy and a really hard worker. Such a shame.