Girl critical after crash in Pike County that killed her father
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By Matt Elofson
Published: July 21, 2008
Last week Stephen Thomas Smartt nearly coached a team of teenage girls, including his daughter, to a softball championship.
A couple days after the tournament Smartt, 50, died from injuries he suffered during a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 231, just north of Troy. Smartt’s daughter, Sydney Pearl Smartt, 15, who was the driver of the vehicle, was critically injured during the crash.
Sydney was taken to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery after the crash, which happened around 11 a.m. Sunday about 5 miles north of Troy. Stephen Smartt died after he was ejected from the 2000 Lincoln Navigator he was traveling in with his daughter. The father and daughter were on their way home to Duluth, Ga., after the week-long softball tournament in Panama City Beach, Fla.
“I don’t understand it. The timing is horrible,” said Terry Wadsworth, whose daughter played with Sydney Smartt. “You’re in a fog because it just seems so surreal.”
Wadsworth said the team, called the GA Force, made it to the third round of the Softball World Series. Sydney played outfield and pitcher alongside Wadsworth’s daughter, who played catcher, for the travel softball team from the Atlanta area.
The teams played Monday through Saturday, but the GA Force played its last game Friday morning, Wadsworth said.
Stephen Smartt was not wearing a seat belt, Alabama Highway Patrol Cpl. J. Helms said. Sydney Smartt was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Helms called speed in excess of the posted speed limit a contributing factor to the crash.
The vehicle was traveling in the northbound lane of U.S. 231 when the driver lost control. It ran off the road, overturned and the passenger was ejected. Helms said Sydney Smartt had a learner’s permit at the time of the crash.
Alabama State troopers are investigating the crash.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Hootiewhoo ) on July 24, 2008 at 3:42 pm
If you did not know Steve, how can you make such stupid comments. How did YOU learn to drive. If Sydney was never given the chance to drive how was she to learn? I have know the Smartt family for over 8 years and ANYONE would be lucky to know this man. He was the salt of the earth. Everything he did for for his family. The only thing wrong he did was not having his seatbelt on, and if you say you have never made this mistake you are lying. I can not believe that people can be so ignorant and make such hateful and hurtful comments. This family deserves respect, which some people apparently does not know how to be respectful. I pray for Kim, Sydney and Nicole. It will be a long road to recovery but I know that they are strong and they will be OK. Please if you can’t say anything nice DON"T SAY ANYTHING!!!!
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Posted by ( Tabby ) on July 22, 2008 at 7:50 pm
This is so sad. I will keep this family in my prayers. There is no doubt in my mind, that this father took his seatbelt off as she was losing control of the vehicle to try and get it under control more concerned for her welfare than his own. Even the most experienced drivers can lose control of their vehicle. I pray she realizes this is not her fault nor her fathers and does not blame herself for this. It’s going to be a very hard time for her but we must lift her up in prayer.
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Posted by ( MissAngela ) on July 22, 2008 at 11:35 am
I am completely heartbroken! I taught Nicole as a 2 year old and got to know her sister Sydney. They are fabulous girls!! The family is just so sweet, it truly breaks my heart! I hope someone that knows the family will read this and if you see them before I do, please let Nicole know that Miss Angela is praying for her and her family and that I love them very much. This has really affected me.
US 231 is a very dangerous road. It may be a straight road, but I have been driving it for over 27 years, and with my parents for over 40 years, and we now take back roads and cut offs to try and avoid that road. Who knows what happened? Who Cares!! This family is in major pain right now and I only want them to get through this.
With much love and many prayers,
Miss Angela
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Posted by ( judge not ) on July 22, 2008 at 11:05 am
It is not important what happened in that car, it is all in the past now. What is important is that Sydney is going to live the rest of her life blaming herself for what happened, I know I would. What is important is that people surround her with prayer that she will be able to deal with this tragedy and get on with her life. She has a long and difficult road to travel. Prayer and time can heal all wounds. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” John 8:7
Pray people, just PRAY!
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Posted by ( softballplayer10 ) on July 22, 2008 at 10:38 am
Sydney and her family are in my thoughts and prayers! If you have the heart please pray for this family.
I love you SYD!
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Posted by ( softballplayer10 ) on July 22, 2008 at 10:36 am
excuse me… i personally knew this family and i can tell you all that your comments are extremely unneccessary and very unappreciated… it does not matter who made bad decisions or poor judgements all that matters now is that my friend is laying in a hospital bed fighting for her life and her dad is dead. put yourself into this situation and keep your mouth SHUT. this is none of yalls business.
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Posted by ( stdkycats ) on July 22, 2008 at 8:55 am
Terrible Tragedy....I drove up on accident scene just moments after it happened. This was an open, straight section of road. Driving conditions were excellent. What I did notice though was that there are a couple of homes just off the road right there. There were some dogs there too. When I got home later that day, I told my wife about the accident. She asked what I thought had happened. I told her I guess a dog had run out into the path of the vehicle - it swerved to miss the dog and flipped. I didn’t know until I read this article that the 15 year daughter was driving. I mention this because when Kids start driving, they are not experienced enough to know how much action to take to avoid hitting an animal before putting their own lives at risk. My Kids are at the college age now. I called them right away, to first tell them that I loved them and then to discuss what had happened and what to do if faced with a similar situation. We did cover this when they were learning to drive - but none of them have actually experieced it to this point. Such a terrible loss for that Family, but valuable lessons for the rest of us.
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Posted by ( Machine Wizard ) on July 22, 2008 at 8:17 am
Please people, wear your seat belt. It can save your life. Just about weekly I read of someone being ejected and killed in a traffic accident. My heart goes out to this family. You are in my prayers.
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Posted by ( momo3 ) on July 22, 2008 at 1:22 am
Poor judgement would be throwing out comments about people and circumstances that you know nothing about. Are you kidding me? You’ve never dropped something and taken off your seatbelt to get it. There’s nothing to say he was riding around without his seatbelt on. The only thing we do know is it was off at the time of the accident. Speed in excess of the posted limit could mean anything. 5mph is in excess of the limit. I’m sure your not guilty of that either. I agree with an earlier comment. Driving there is much safer than where she’s from. She would have to get on I-85 in one of the worst traffic areas in the world just to get to her school. She had a great dad. One who was loving and involved. He would never have thought of judging anyone on pieces of information that he read in a newspaper. I know this may be news to you, but newspapers and, yes, even cops get stuff wrong sometimes. She was lucky to have Steve. It’s a good thing to know that she had a dad that taught her to love and serve others; not judge and make uninformed statements. Good luck Syd! Our prayers are with you. You’re a great kid!
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Posted by ( ashrossi22 ) on July 21, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I grew up knowing that softball was a game we all loved, I got to expierence playing with Steve and Sydney.
Steve was a great man, great coach,and i caring man that loved everyone.I jsut saw him two weeks ago at the softball feld, he came to the tournamnt I was playing at and i ran into him up there and I got to talk to him and sydney both. I know its ging to be hard for me and the Smartt family. Its even hard for me and Im sure for everyone who knew them. Steve Smartt, I love you and miss you.I wish the best for the family.
Sydd, you stay strong girl, I want to see you back out on the field again oonce you get better.
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