Wife Recovers In Hospital, Husband And Son Die In Wreck
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GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM) - A fiery crash and an awful tragedy. Two members of a Missouri family are dead and a third hospitalized after their Ford Escape was rear ended along Interstate-30 near Lake Ray Hubbard.
28-year-old Jarred Schumpert and his two-year-old son Lyndon died at the scene. Laura Schumpert, Jarred's wife and the boy's mother, is in fair condition at Parkland Hospital in Dallas with burns she suffered in the inferno.
Cellphone video from a passing motorist showed the intensity of the flames.
Investigators claim the Schumpert's Ford escape had safely stopped when it was rear-ended by a Suburban that did not. That driver---20 year-old Mikel Taylor Loftin of Bogata---may face criminal charges for his part in the crash.
According to Garland Police spokesman Joe Harn, "He (Loftin) failed to maintain his speed in that traffic was slowing (and) he did not slow down, so that's one charge we would look at."
Harn said the Schumperts were returning home to Cape Girardeau, Missouri after visiting relatives locally. Jarred Schumpert, originally from East Texas, had served as a corrections guard in Missouri since January.
He was a 2009 graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Boliver, Missouri, and was an award-winning member of that school's football program. Tweets from the school and coaches today offered condolences at the loss, calling Jarred an "incredible man."
"A lot of people were effected by this wreck last night," according to Harn. Not just the Schumpert family, but also those stunned passersby at the fire, trying to help out.
"The people that were there on the scene, we were told people were trying to help to get these people out of the vehicles.'
But Harn told CBS 11 News the Schumperts may have been knocked out in the collision and could not be saved, Jarred in the front passenger seat, Lyndon in a child safety seat in back.
Southwest Baptist University mourns the loss of former SBU Football player.
"This is devastating news," SBU Director of Athletics Mike Pitts stated. "I still remember shaking Jarred's hand in the middle of the football field on senior day like it was yesterday. My heart goes out to them at this time."
Schumpert was arguably the best defensive player to ever play at SBU. He started a remarkable 38 games over his four year career from 2006-2009.
Schumpert currently holds schools record in tackles, solo tackles, and fumbles forced while also ranking in the top three in assisted tackles, tackles for a loss, and yards from tackles for a loss.
"I was saddened and shocked to hear this morning about the death of Jarred Schumpert and his son," SBU President Dr. Pat Taylor stated. "Jarred is one of the finest young men I have met at SBU. He was a great football player for the Bearcats, an outstanding student, and a role model citizen. I also got to know his parents well, and they are fine people. The thoughts and prayers of the Bearcat family will be going out to the Schumpert family."
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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