Thomas Howard, former Raider, dies in car accident

Dec 4, 2011; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall (34) falls into the end zone past Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Thomas Howard (53) for a touchdown during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

In sobering and sad news, Thomas Howard has passed away. According to witnesses, the 30-year old linebacker was driving his BMW 750Li in excess of 100 miles per hour near Oakland, lost control of his vehicle and ran into the back of a semi-truck. That impact launched his across the median where it struck another vehicle before crashing into a Honda CR-V.

Both Howard and the driver of the CR-V, a 55-year old man were pronounced dead at the scene when rescue workers from the Fire Department were unable to get to either as the damage of their vehicles was too extensive. The driver of the second vehicle Howard’s car impacted, a Chevy Monte Carlo, was transported to the hospital when he complained of pain. This wreck occurred on Interstate Highway 880 and happened at 12:50am.

Howard had recently been released by the Atlanta Falcons so they could activate Sean Weatherspoon coming off of injured reserve. After spending the majority of his career with the Oakland Raiders after he was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft from the University of Texas-El Paso, Howard spent two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, as well as those of the man he hit with his car.

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