Tragedy in Washington State

[ÜberJumper]

Tragic news out of Washington State today. A Relic developer, Brian Wood, was killed in a multi-vehicle, multi-fatality accident on the weekend.

Details here.

Brian was the lead designer for Company of Heroes Online and worked on several other Company of Heroes games.

The thoughts of the community are with Brian's family, his wife and unborn child.

Not sure if he was returning from PAX or not (Relic did not have an official attendance at PAX this year).

Brian can be seen in this video.

UPDATE:

Pike's cousin Szymon, who once upon a time worked at Relic and now works at Radical, just sent this note to Kotaku:

"Brian was a very close friend. He was just the kindest most down to earth person you could ever hope to meet, as is Erin. We have set up a trust fund to help Erin and the baby during this very difficult time and I was hoping you would be willing to post a blurb about this and a link to www.brianwoodmemorialtrust.com on your site. We, family and friends, would be incredibly grateful."

[Noir]

My condolences to Brian's family.

[Pocktio]

Oh no thats awful, my condolences to his poor family.

It's goddamn unfair that the people responsible in such tragedies always emerge unscathed, damn unfair.

[Ifitmovesnukeit]

That's just terrible.

The cause of the crash was so senseless and avoidable. I wonder if the "drug-related" part means that the driver of the Blazer was on drugs.

Regardless- Simply awful. My condolences.

[Tiresias]

Horrible news, my condolences to family and friends

[Sinogrim]

terrible.

Condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.

[Pegman]

Terrible news. Truly sad when something like this happens. My thoughts and wishes are with the family and friends of Brian Wood, and I hope that he can find some form of peace now.

[Bowkers]

Horrible news. Condolences to families of members that were involved.

[NovaBurn]

This is terrible. Times like these I always feel that words cannot fully convey our condolences and thoughts to them. Just glad to hear this wife and soon to be kid are ok.

[corncobman]

That is shocking news.

What a tragedy. My thoughts go out to his family.

I really don't know what to say.

[roflmao]

My condolences to them. It is terrible news indeed.

[Gorb]

Another person offering his condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in light of such a tragic happening.

[PULSTAR]

My condolences to his family and the families of everyone involved. Always seems to be so senseless and avoidable...

[Kushan_Pilot]

My condolences as well. I am relieved the wife and child are expected to recover.

[FriendlyFire]

This is absolutely horrible. My condolences to the family.

[CommissarRezail]

COMMISSAR MAD, Commissar want to smash who started the accident. Those monsters... why....wh..y. Its not fair talented people die to other stupidity its not fair. Commissar sad now. I feel for his family... man i hope the person who started the accident is either ashame or something man.

[n0z3k1ll3r]

This is dreadful news. It disgusts me that because a couple of idiots decided to drive on drugs a child is going to grow up not knowing its father.

[Mhgges]

my Condolences to his family

[Szminsky]

My sincere condolences. This is truly terrible, glad his wife and kid made it.

[Danustar]

Oh no. So sorry to hear this.
Adding my voice to the sympathies from this little corner of the community.

[Codex]

That's so horrible.

My condolences...

[guardsman lover]

My condolences. This is really bad.

[Hive_Node]

My condolences.

[Promythyus]

Damn. I really feel for his wife, she must be having a terrible time right now

Honestly, it astounds me why people do stupid stuff like drive whilst on drugs. Do people seriously not realise what immense damage they can do with a car? Sure. Go speed whilst high, I really don't care. But do it where you won't destroy a life. The court sentences the idiot will receive are nothing compared to what they have done, taken a life and caused a child to grow up not knowing it's father.

[Homdax]

My condolences to his co-workers, family and friends.

[Faenaris]

My sympathies and condolences to his family and his friends at Relic. It's not right for a father to not see his kid grow up, nor is it fair for a kid to grow up without his father.

It is also sad some "kids" don't get that driving while drugged-up (or liquored-up) is dangerous until they kill someone. I hope they punish the offender harshly.

[Imperial Honour]

My sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Truly saddening and I hope that his family can cope with his death. May he rest in peace and his achievements be remembered.

Thanks for all the work you (Brian Wood) did on Company of Heroes .

[Dimension]

oh shit

[Nurizeko]

Unborn child...ooouch.

[Giladas]

My heart goes out to his wife and child. The sad results of a single moment of stupidity (like giving the wheel so you can take the sweater off) are rarely as tragic as here. It makes you wonder why people don't respect the power inherent in getting a car weighing several hundred kilograms to move at these speeds, and what that power can do if you lose control.

[Hirmetrium]

This is terribly sad. Not only has the world lost a very talented man, his wife is going to have a really tough time and the unborn child will never know their father.

My condolences sympathies also go out - while these threads are often disliked for the sheer fact their unproductive, its worth noting that a blow has been dealt to Relic this day.

[Dess_Aramea]

I am pretty much shocked as to the whole randomness of it. I cycle to work every day and cannot fathom why a car from the opposite lane will go over the barrier and spin across to my position...unthinkable, surely. But no, it is not. This is scary to think about, sad to comprehend and tragic that it should happen to anyone because of the carelessness of others.

As with everyone here, my sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims involved in the tragedy. And since Brian Wood is known to us, I am sure we will all reflect on how his life affected us in good ways. All in all, it really is a shame, damn right shame. : /

[MadCatChiken]

This is just horrible... My condolences go to his family and friends, may he rest in piece, godspeed Brian. Even worse is now the child will never see his farther, world has lost a good talented person.

[Civik]

I heard about this accident but had no idea that it was a Relic dev involved. Condolences to the family and friends.

[TheDeadlyShoe]

I apologize on behalf of Seattle. That's terrible.

[Giant Moth]

My condolances to his family and sympathies for his team. Truly, one of the worst things that can happen in a development oprocess is to lose one of the persons in charge.

[Busby]

I wish the his wife and unborn child a speedy recovery, both mentally and physically. For all those that knew Brain Woods, I can only express my sympathy.

[Mnementh]

My condolences to his family and friends. Such an avoidable accident. Always scares me driving, your at the mercy of other road users.

[Methuselath]

Condolences to his family. Rest in Peace.

[Carl]

Yeah, I think a few others have summed up my thoughts on this: Words just aren't good enough. Language just isn't eloquent enough.

Condolences of course. But I’m left feeling cheap for saying it, but I just don't know what else to say.

And of course best wishes to his wife and other family.

[Afoxi]

Why is it that the ones with good jobs and a family end up getting dragged into huge messes like these when shitheads decide to do something stupid like putting on a god damned sweater while driving?

[ÜberJumper]

Update:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/fina...150/story.html

Brian steered the car in a way that put himself in the way rather than have a head on collision.

[Inquisitor Lok]

Rest in Piece, and my condolences to the entire family.

[Firatha]

All I can say is my condolences as anyone can see I have never posted here before but I keep up on ALL video game news and when I walked down stairs and the news was on CTV and this was one of the top stories my heart sank when they said what had happened and that he lost his life I didnt even know what to say, the video game world has lost a talented man and my dear home Vancouver has lost a wonderful man and an amazing would be father. And to top it all off his very last action saved the life of his wife and child you will be missed greatly by many

[Vintage]

A Chevy Blazer, with four occupants, crossed the centre line when the driver tried to take her sweater off while driving, asking the other front passenger to take the wheel at the time.

...

Rest in peace Brian. I didn't know you but you helped to create one of the best games I've ever played, Company of Heroes. I wish your family and loved ones well.

[Malarky]

My condolences and sympathy for his family and friends.
I didn't know him personally but like Vintage said, plenty of us enjoyed his work.

Brian steered the car in a way that put himself in the way rather than have a head on collision.

Rest in peace you brave man.

The sweater will pay for it's crime, you can bet on it like betting on Duke. Forever.

[Dj]

RIP Brian.

[Dark_Avenger]

This is a tragedy indeed.

Rest in piece Brian.

[Thunderbolt]

Condolences from my wife and I to his family, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

we remember his presentation from the Open house when they announced COHO for China.

i hope those responsible are charged to the full extent of the law.

[Elerium]

It angers me very much so that a man with the rest of his life to look forward to, a dream job with a loving family and a child on the way could have it taken away from him by a reckless stupid woman who thought that driving under drug influence would be a good idea. Then she takes off her sweater while driving because she also thought that would be a good idea.
Not only that, but two of her young friends died in the backseat as well. Wood's a hero for making that sacrifice, and I hope she realises the consequences of what she has caused and is prosecuted to the fullest of the law.
My condolences to Wood's family, may he rest in peace.