A 19-year-old Texas college student’s life was tragically altered after a severe car crash earlier this month when a drunk driver rear-ended him, causing his car’s fuel tank to explode.
According to reports, Aidan Poole, a student at Texas Tech University, was driving along I-27 on September 7 when a speeding vehicle struck him from behind. The impact sent his car airborne, and upon landing, the fuel tank ignited, engulfing the vehicle in flames. Poole was trapped inside, struggling to open the doors. He survived but suffered severe burns across his body.
Rushed to the hospital, Poole has undergone multiple surgeries and faces a long road to recovery. His parents have been by his side daily, with his mother Kristi Poole expressing heartbreak over seeing her son in such pain: “You never want to hear your child screaming in agony or see them covered in burns.”
The driver, Thomas Rich, was found to be driving under the influence and arrested by Hale County authorities. He now faces charges of intoxication assault.
Authorities remind the public: never drink and drive, and seek a designated driver if consuming alcohol.
