Auto Accident Lawyers
Well-known University of Auburn sports broadcaster Rod Bramblett, 53, and his wife Paula, 52, died after being involved in a serious car accident in Alabama, reports People Magazine (https://people.com/sports/auburn-sportcaster-rod-bramblett-wife-die/).
The accident took place at around 6:00 in the evening on Saturday, May 22. According to local authorities, the two were hit from behind by a teenager who was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The name of the driver has not yet been released, and there is currently an active investigation into the tragic accident. The 16-year-old driver was taken to an area hospital as well, but their injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.
The couple leaves behind two children, Joshua and Shelby. Shelby is currently a student at Auburn. Paula Bramblett was an employee of Auburn’s Information Technology Department.
Steven Leath, the current Auburn president, posted on social media after the couple’s death was announced. Leath expressed his condolences and offered support and sympathy to the broadcaster’s wife and their families.
The current governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, also expressed sympathy on social media and offered the family prayers while citing Rod Bramblett as voice that would echo for generations to come.
Rod Bramblett had been the Auburn baseball team’s voice since 1993 and also took over as the voice for the men’s basketball and football teams there in 2003. He was named “Alabama Sportscaster of the Year” for 2006, 2010 and 2013 and also Sports Illustrated‘s “Broadcaster of the Year” for 2013.
Guz Malzahn, a head coach at Auburn, released a formal statement to sports network ESPN regarding the tragic death of the couple. Malzahn said he is heartbroken by the loss of the couple and that Rod Bramblett was a true professional who loved Auburn. The coach added that Rod’s family always came first in his life, and he also offered his support to the couple’s two children in the wake of their loss.
While the investigation into this accident is ongoing, police have said that alcohol was not a factor in this crash. Given the involvement of a teenage driver causing a rear-end collision, it is entirely possible that distracted driving was a factor in the accident that led to the couple’s deaths.
A memorial service was held for the couple at Auburn on May 31. Many friends and coworkers attended, including Debbie Wood, who had been friends of the couple for more than 30 years and was one of the last people to see them before the deadly accident. The number of attendees was reportedly close to 2,000, reflecting the legacy and the empty hole both Rod and his wife are leaving behind at the university.
A person’s failure to pay attention for just one minute while driving can have devastating and lifelong consequences for those around them on the road. If you have been injured in an accident because of another driver’s carelessness, recklessness or disregard for the rules of the road, be sure to speak to experienced auto accident lawyers about your case today.
Thanks to Richard J. Banta, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and auto accidents.
