‘American Idol’ Finalist Rickey Smith Dies in Car Crash, Struck by Allegedly Drunk Truck Driver Going the Wrong Way

Left: American Idol finalist Rickey Smith on, March 8, 2003 in North Hollywood , California. (Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images); Right: Intersection of S Western Avenue and I-240 in Oklahoma City. (Screenshot of Google Maps)

“American Idol” finalist Rickey Smith died in a car accident on Friday when a truck driving wrong way struck him head on.

The crash happened on I-240 near Western in S. Oklahoma City, news9.com reported.

Smith, 36, finalist of the 2003 American Idol contest, died on scene.

The truck driver, Gerardo Cerda Jr., 27, of Oklahoma City, survived. After being treated at a hospital, he was placed in custody in Oklahoma County Jail for driving under influence.

Smith finished 8th on the second season of “American Idol.”

“Music is something that I love to do,” he said in his goodbye video on the show. “This is just like the dream come true and I just want to make sure that nothing holds me back and I do the best that I can.”

READ MORE

• ‘American Idol’ Finale Sees Performances From ‘Idol’ Alums and Judges

READ MORE

• Parent Company of ‘American Idol’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Files for Bankruptcy