Tributes Pour In for Wes Rucker After Reports of Fatal Knoxville Car Accident
Wes Rucker reportedly died in a car accident Thursday in Knoxville, and colleagues and fans flooded social media with tributes to the longtime Tennessee Volunteers reporter. He was 43.
Wes Rucker remembered by colleagues and fans
Wes Rucker drew immediate messages of grief and admiration from peers who described him as a devoted reporter and family man. "Absolutely devastated to hear the news of the passing of my friend Wes Rucker in a car wreck in Knoxville. Wes was the heart of Tennessee sports coverage in my mind and a wonderful man, " one colleague wrote. Other messages called him "an exceptional reporter" and highlighted how he always made time to talk about the Vols.
Long career covering the Vols
Rucker began covering Tennessee athletics in 2000 and worked as a senior writer at 247 Sports and CBS from 2011 to 2025. He spent nearly a decade as a sports reporter for The Chattanooga Times Free Press before joining WBIR in August 2025 as a Vols reporter. In November 2025 he started hosting a streaming show and podcast called 10 at 3 with Wes Rucker. While with 247 Sports, he hosted the GoVols247 podcast; he also hosted The Wes Rucker Show and co-hosted Swain and Rucker on Radio Knoxville.
I-40 crash left one driver dead
The Knoxville Police Department said a driver died in a multi-vehicle crash that happened around 4: 50 p. m. on I-40 West near Cedar Bluff Road. KPD said a stopped car was rear-ended, a third car struck the second car and a large pickup then drove into and on top of one of the vehicles; five vehicles were involved and the identity of the driver who died has not been released. KPD is investigating.
Rucker's passing prompted immediate reflection on a career that spanned more than two decades of Tennessee sports coverage, from his start in 2000 through roles at 247 Sports, CBS and WBIR. For now, law enforcement continues its investigation into the I-40 collision, and friends and listeners are sharing memories of his reporting and his affection for family and the Vols.
