Texas Teen Who Survived DUI Crash Dies After Being Hit by Suspected Drunk Driver

A 19-year-old Texas student has died after he was struck by a suspected drunk driver — two years after he was hit by a different allegedly intoxicated motorist.

Per a press release from the Beaumont Police Department, on Sunday at 2:13 a.m., officials responded to the 2400 block of S. Martin Luther King in response to a major accident.

Based on their preliminary investigation, police believe a black Chevrolet truck was traveling north in the southbound lanes in the 2400 block of S. MLK when it crashed into a gray Nissan Altima head-on.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger was transported to the hospital, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

In an updated statement, police identified the driver as 19-year-old Lamar University student Clyde Thompson and the passenger as Tonysha Lashay Smith, also 19 and a student at the same Texas college.

The driver of the Chevrolet truck was also transported to medical care for their injuries.

Though the investigation is ongoing, detectives believe alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

Over two years ago in May 2019, KHOU reported that Thompson and a friend were allegedly struck by a drunk driver on their way home from basketball practice.

As a result, Thompson was placed in a coma for his brain injuries and underwent four skull surgeries.

Though Thompson’s basketball coach told the outlet that doctors gave the teen less than a 50 percent chance of survival, Thompson healed and rejoined his high school classmates for his senior year.

While speaking to KHOU this week, Thompson’s mother Tamala Johnson said she is still trying to come to terms with her son’s passing.

“It’s just unreal, you know? To get killed by the very thing you survived... It hurts,” Johnson said.

Johnson said her son was studying to be a physical therapist, to help others who struggle with the injuries he once had.

“He wanted to be a spokesperson to young kids his age that are going through therapy, that are stuck in ICU and don’t see a way,” she added. “Just go and talk to them and say, ‘Hey, you know, I was there.’”

This week, Thompson’s twin sister Kiarrah created a GoFundMe to raise funds for her brother’s funeral.

“Clyde was a dedicated son, brother, college student, and athlete. My heart is beyond hurt. Never in one million years did my family and I expect for my brother to fall victim to a drunk driver again. Clyde had so much more to give to the world. Tough, fearless, and an inspiration to us all; Clyde, we will never forget you,” Kiarrah wrote.

As of this writing, the page has raised over $18K out of its $25K goal.