Wes Rucker, Tennessee sports reporter, dies at 43 in a tragic Knoxville car crash leaving behind pregnant wife and son

Wes Rucker, Tennessee sports reporter, dies at 43 after a car crash in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Thursday, February 19. The crash happened on Interstate 40 near Cedar Bluff. He was the only person who died in the accident. The news shocked the sports world in Knoxville, where many fans knew him for his daily coverage of University of Tennessee teams. His father-in-law, David Goldberg, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post the same day. Rucker was 43 years old.

He leaves behind his wife, Lauren, their young son Hank, and a baby girl on the way. Rucker had just finished recording his show, “10 at 3 With Wes Rucker,” hours before the crash. On that show, he spoke about honesty and setting the right example. Now, that message is being shared widely by friends and fellow reporters who are struggling to accept the sudden loss.

Wes Rucker cause of death: University of Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and family confirm loss of longtime reporter

David Goldberg wrote on Facebook, “This is so very sad. My son-in-law Wes Rucker married to my daughter Lauren was tragically killed in a car accident several hours ago.” He added, “We are heartbroken. Lauren is expecting their 2nd child. We will miss him. Very sad.”

Rucker and Lauren shared a son named Hank. His sister, Molly, later created a GoFundMe page to support Lauren, Hank, and the unborn baby. On the page, Molly wrote, “Words cannot fully express the pain our family is experiencing. Wes was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and so much more whose greatest joy in life was family, especially his pride and joys, his wife Lauren, Hank, and precious baby girl on the way.”

She also shared, “In a tragic instant, our family has faced an unimaginable loss. As the family navigates this devastating loss, we are hearing from those in a social community that he loved so dearly a desire to support.” At the time of publication, the GoFundMe had raised more than $340,000.

On Friday, February 20, University of Tennessee head basketball coach Rick Barnes spoke about Rucker before his press conference. Rick Barnes said, “We lost a friend and a colleague yesterday. It’s heartbreaking, it really is. It’s heartbreaking. Our hearts and prayers go out to Lauren, his son, Hank, and the one that’s on the way.”

He continued, “Wes was a wonderful person. A wonderful guy. He covered athletics here for a quarter of a century. He was such a part of the UT family and the sports family here in Knoxville. Say a prayer for Wes’ family. I know that we’re going to miss him dearly. He loved what he did. He loved his family.”

Earlier on Thursday, in a clip later shared by reporter Austin Stanley on social media, Wes Rucker said on his show, “I’m just trying to be the example you want to set in the world. Do not be a hypocrite. My parents did not raise hypocrites. We don’t abide by that. We don’t tolerate it.”

Those words, spoken about an hour before his death, are now being remembered by many in Tennessee and beyond.



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