Tomlinson's father killed in truck accident

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2777233

WACO, Texas -- The father of San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson died Friday in a car accident that killed another man believed to be related to the athlete, authorities said.

Oliver Tomlinson, 71, of Chilton was killed in the 1:30 p.m. one-vehicle rollover, said Charlie Morgan, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman.

The pickup's driver, Ronald C. McClain, 48, was taken by ambulance to Waco's Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he died around 4:40 p.m., Morgan said. McClain is believed to be another relative of Tomlinson's, Morgan said.

LaDainian Tomlinson was returning to Texas after being notified about the accident and his father's death, Morgan said.
Witnesses reported that a tire on the 1969 Chevrolet pickup truck blew, causing the truck to swerve out of control and flip over near an intersection east of Waco near Asa. Both men were thrown from the truck, Morgan said.

Jewel Tomlinson, Oliver's wife and LaDainian's stepmother, said her husband and McClain had been returning to Waco after a trip to the family home in Tomlinson Hill, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported in its online edition Friday. She said Oliver had been staying in Waco recently while recovering from an illness. LaDainian Tomlinson, who won the NFL's MVP award last season, played football at Waco's University High School before going on to star at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Sad. I lost my mother at the age of 54 last September to an automobile accident. LT is in for a very long and tough time. I still really don't believe my mother is gone and probably will be quite awhile to it even begins to really sink in.

Prayers to the Tomlinson family.

:( Very sad. Not sure if it would have mattered, but I hope some people will realize the importance of seatbelts when in an automobile after reading this story. I feel for LT and his family. And I am very sorry to hear about your loss Buckeye33. Stay strong buddy.