An Olympic bronze medalist and former NCAA champion at Texas A&M died on Monday after a head-on collision in Texas, The Associated Press reported.
Deon Lendore was killed after his car crossed the center lane of a Texas highway and hit a car on its side before colliding with an SUV, according to Sgt. Bryan Washko, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman. The 29-year-old was heading home from practice at Texas A&M, where he was a volunteer assistant coach, at the time of the accident, notes the AP.
The three-time Olympian for Trinidad and Tobago died at the scene, and the driver of the SUV was hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver of the car Lendore first hit was not injured. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear.
Lendore, who was still competing professionally, had previously competed in the past three Summer Olympic Games. He won a bronze medal in the men’s 4×400 meter relay during the 2012 London Olympics, noted USA Today.
Texas A&M coach Pat Henry lamented the loss of Lendore, who has volunteered at the school for the past two years.
“I can’t even express this loss,” Henry told the AP.
He added, “Over the years our relationship had changed to not only one of my athletes to coach, but he was loved by my wife, children and grandchildren. He was part of my family. It hurts, it really hurts.”
The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee also mourned Lendore’s death, calling him “an inspiration and motivation to us all both on an off the track.”