Posted at 2:04 p.m., Saturday, February 24, 2007
Chargers' Tomlinson 'devastated' by father's death
Associated Press
WACO, Texas -- LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL's MVP, is ''devastated'' by the death of his father, who was killed when a pickup truck flipped on a highway.Oliver Tomlinson, 71, was killed yesterday afternoon in the rollover, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The driver, Ronald McClain was taken by ambulance to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he died. The 48-year-old McClain was Tomlinson's brother-in-law, authorities said.
''My father and I had a great relationship, and I am devastated by his passing,'' LaDainian Tomlinson, the San Diego Chargers' running back, said today. ''I will miss him.''
The brief statement did not mention funeral arrangements or other details.
''We thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts and hope they will continue to respect our family's privacy at this sad time,'' he said.
LaDainian Tomlinson starred in high school in Waco before going on to TCU and the Chargers.
Jewel Tomlinson, Oliver's wife and LaDainian's stepmother, told the Waco Tribune-Herald that Oliver and McClain had been driving back to Waco after a trip to the family home in Tomlinson Hill.
Investigators said it appears McClain lost control of the truck after he drifted to the right side of the road and then overcorrected his steering. The truck veered into a ditch and crashed into a mound of gravel. Both men were ejected from the truck.
