The wife of professional golfer Chris Smith was killed and two of his children seriously hurt in a fiery crash with a Greyhound bus that was carrying a Canadian-based gridiron team.
Beth Smith was returning from a Father’s Day visit with her family when she was killed at 11:35am on Sunday while traveling in a sport utility vehicle on a freeway near Angola, Indiana, 64km north of Fort Wayne, the News-Sentinel newspaper reported on Monday.
CRITICALLY INJURED
PHOTO: AP
Smith’s children, 16-year-old Abigail and 12-year-old Cameron, were critically injured in the crash and remained in a Fort Wayne hospital on Monday, the newspaper said.
Several members of the London, Ontario Silverbacks football team were also hurt.
The coroner has yet to positively identify the badly burned body recovered from the SUV, but the PGA Tour confirmed that Beth Smith had died in the crash.
“All of us at the PGA Tour are saddened by the news of the tragic accident which claimed the life of Beth Smith,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and his family during this very difficult time.”
Chris Smith won the 2002 PGA Buick Classic and has been a part-time player on the USPGA since 1995. The 40-year-old Smith competed in three PGA events this year, with his best showing being a 13th place at the Puerto Rico Open.
TEENAGE DRIVER
Indiana police said Beth Smith was a passenger in an SUV that went out of control and crossed the center of the freeway before colliding with the bus carrying the football team and its owner, who was also hurt. Police said Smith’s teenage daughter Abigail was driving at the time.
A total of 22 people on the bus were injured and 11 were taken to hospital. Another 11 were treated at the scene and released.
Alan Lazar, owner of the Silverbacks, suffered head injuries and was listed in stable condition on Monday.
Chris Smith competed at a Nationwide Tour tournament last week in the state of Arkansas, where he missed the cut.
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