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Sports reporter Wes Rucker, who covered Tennessee athletics, dies at 43

  • Authorities say on Feb. 19, a crash on I-40 West near Cedar Bluff claimed the life of Wes Rucker, Knoxville Police Department reported.
  • KPD said the collision unfolded in a chain reaction, starting when a stopped vehicle was rear-ended causing minor damage, then a secondary strike occurred before a large pickup truck ran onto a car, fatally injuring the driver.
  • A longtime Vols beat writer, Wes Rucker covered Tennessee Athletics since 2000 and joined WBIR in August 2025, hosting the 10 at 3 with Wes Rucker videocast with over 70 episodes, returning to journalism after a stroke at age 32.
  • WBIR and colleagues issued statements mourning Wes Rucker as a GoFundMe was created to support Lauren and Hank, with David Goldberg confirming his death and Tennessee athletics figures expressing sorrow.
  • Updated Feb. 20, 2026: the Knoxville Police Department said officers responded at 4:50 p.m. ET on Thursday to a five-vehicle crash, with investigations ongoing and media outlets updating coverage.
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Awful Announcing broke the news in on Friday, February 20, 2026.
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