(Dallas) Cowboy charged in fatal hit-and-run - victims were rescuing man from burning car

The Dallas Morning News ^ | January 15, 2003 | By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR and JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News

[fourdeuce82d]

"He hit a nice guy. If Demont wasn't such a good person and he hadn't stopped, he'd still be here today."

Roger that.

Those two good samaritans probably didn't expect to die, but they could have stayed in his vehicle and watched. According to one witness traffic was still streaming by. They got out of their vehicle and put their @$$es on the line. I don't want to die, but I could think of worse ways- "greater love hath no man" etc..

Let's not let the bad example set by one man blind us to the good example set by two others. Looks to me like the ratio is one scheisekopf to two good guys. That's encouraging.

[1rudeboy]

Sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

Only if he can make the funds "disappear." An account in the Caymans won't be enough.

[sport]

Jerry Jones will get him out of any trouble he might be in.

[FreePaul]

An attendant at the club told this fellow the driver was in NO condition to drive when he left the club.

Sounds as if the "The Club" is in for a heap of trouble. Did they get him drunk to the point that he was in "NO condition to drive"? They could lose their license and anyone who served him could be charged. They will certainly be included in the multi-million dollar law suits. This time I don't have a problem with any legal action against all of the parties responsible for this.

[Bullish]

But more importantly, did he have a good end-zone dance after hitting them?

If I see even one Dallas Cowboy doing one celebratory end zone dance next season......

That kills me!

[MeekOneGOP]

Let's not let the bad example set by one man blind us to the good example set by two others. Looks to me like the ratio is one scheisekopf to two good guys. That's encouraging.

I thought you might like this little update...

---

Both victims made a habit of helping out stranded motorists

01/16/2003

By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News

Helping someone - friend or stranger - was nothing unusual for Joseph "Joby" Wood. When childhood pal Demont Matthews called asking for a ride home early Tuesday, Mr. Wood didn't hesitate, family members said.

The decision was just as easy when the two stopped on their way home to help a man trapped in a burning car.

But their good will put them in the path of a 2002 BMW 745i that witnesses say was speeding north on Interstate 35E and had swerved onto the shoulder to avoid the burning car.

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Video: Doug Fox reports

The BMW, which police say was driven by Dallas Cowboys backup cornerback Dwayne Goodrich, did not stop. A passenger in the burning car was also hit as he worked to free the driver.

"I always taught my brother to do the right thing. And they did," Jamey Bardwell said of his brother, Mr. Wood, 21, and his friend, Mr. Matthews, 23. "And then some guy in a BMW did the wrong thing.

"At least they were heroes, and they saved the guys in the car. He [the BMW driver] could have been a hero, too. He could have saved them if he stopped."

Mr. Goodrich and his attorney, Reed Prospere, arranged for the football player to turn himself in Tuesday afternoon. An anonymous tip had led investigators to begin looking for Mr. Goodrich, and police were preparing a warrant for his arrest.

Mark Thompson, who met Mr. Wood in the eighth grade, said they frequently stopped along the interstate to help change tires of stranded motorists.

"We've done it before. So this situation is not once in a while," said Mr. Thompson, who described Mr. Wood as "the type of best friend you would always want."

Mr. Matthews' family said he also made a habit of assisting stranded motorists.

The families still aren't sure where Mr. Wood picked up Mr. Matthews. They say they may never know.

"My understanding is Demont needed a ride home," said Mr. Wood's mother, Laura Wood. "They were on their way home. Joby had been at home until Demont called."

On their way back to Plano, where both men lived, they stopped to rescue the man from his burning car after it rear-ended a tractor-trailer having mechanical problems. Before they could free the stranger, the BMW tried to pass them at a speed of more than 100 mph, witnesses told police.

Mr. Matthews died instantly and was dragged about 150 feet. Mr. Wood died a short time later at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

A third man hit by the BMW, a passenger in the car involved in the first accident, Shuki Josef, 38, of Dallas said he was in too much pain Wednesday to talk. He had broken his leg and was scheduled to undergo surgery.

"It was bad," he said.

Mr. Wood's family said he was working at the family business, a commercial cleaning company, and making a life for himself and his son, J.J. Wood. Mr. Wood usually cared for J.J., who will soon turn 2, although the boy's mother lives in the area and sees him frequently, family members said.

Family members said Mr. Wood had gotten into trouble with police a few years earlier. A judge released him on probation in October 2001, after Mr. Wood served nearly 18 months on a credit card abuse conviction, state prison records show. His probation would have ended in March 2004.

"When he was younger, he'd had some trouble, but now he had his own place and a job," Ms. Wood said. "He had his own place, an apartment with his son. ... He was a loving, kind person."

Plano East Senior High math teacher Erin Downing recalled Mr. Wood's determination to earn his high school diploma. He graduated in 2000.

"Joby understood it was very important to get his diploma, and he worked very hard - he went to summer school - to get it," Ms. Downing recalled. "He didn't let things get him down, and he was not leaving here without it."

The youth shared his good friend's helpful nature, his teacher said. When Ms. Downing read about the 21-year-old trying to pull a stranger from a burning car, "I could certainly picture him doing it," she said.

Mr. Matthews, a 1998 graduate of Plano Senior High School, had worked at Target until December, when he was laid off. He was searching for a job.

Mr. Matthews' father, Danny Matthews, said his son was friends with everyone he met.

A former teacher recalled Mr. Matthews being serious about learning regardless of what was happening outside school.

"Demont faced challenges in his life - his family dynamics changed - but he always saw the good in everyone and really had a good outlook on life," said Mary Amigone, a reading teacher who taught Mr. Matthews his junior and senior years. "And he always held down a job."

He was well-liked, and Ms. Amigone said it was no surprise that her former student was helping someone out in his last moments.

"He always helped out, whether it was pushing someone in a wheelchair or picking up a book for someone," she said. "We have all been just terrible today."

Staff writer Kendall Anderson contributed to this report.

E-mail jemily@dallasnews.com

---

Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/011603dnmetvictims.6de9e.html

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This guy was doing over 100 MPH in the MEDIAN when he hit and killed two people. If this guy wasn't under the influence, I'll kiss your ass.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

From ESPN:

Families making burial arrangements for victims

DALLAS -- Police considered more charges Wednesday against Dallas Cowboys defensive back Dwayne Goodrich, accused of speeding through an accident scene and striking and killing two people.

Goodrich, 24, was released from jail early Wednesday after posting bond totaling $50,000 on two felony counts of manslaughter in the deaths of Joseph Wood, 21, and Demont Matthews, 23, Plano residents who were childhood friends.

Wood and Matthews were trying to rescue a man from a burning car when they were hit.

Each manslaughter charge carries a penalty of two to 20 years and fines of up to $10,000.

Meanwhile, two families were making burial arrangements.

"They sacrificed their lives. I feel it is all in God's planning,'' said Matthews' aunt, Cynthia Matthews. "We loved Demont, but there are lives that will continue on. He sacrificed his life in trying to help another person. In doing so, he lost his life. We're just standing on the promises that we'll see him again.''

The hit-and-run followed an accident in which a car had rear-ended a disabled tractor trailer rig and caught fire about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 35.

A passenger in the burning car got out and began trying to free the driver. Two men in another car pulled over and ran up to assist, police said.

While they were doing that, said senior police Cpl. Diana Watts, the driver of a speeding BMW tried to swerve between the disabled vehicles and struck all three of the rescuers.

His Dallas attorney, Reed Prospere, did not immediately return phone calls from The Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon.

But Prospere said in a story in Wednesday's online edition of The Dallas Morning news that Goodrich was devastated by what happened, was not drunk at the time, and was ready to accept responsibility once he learned people had been injured.

Prospere said Goodrich told him he initially thought that he avoided the accident site by swerving onto the shoulder and had hit only debris as he was driving home to suburban Coppell. Goodrich lives a few miles north of the Dallas Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch.

Matthews was dragged 155 feet by the BMW, according to police. He died at the scene. Wood died later. Witnesses told police the BMW had been traveling more than 100 mph.

The burning car's driver escaped with minor injuries. The third rescuer suffered a broken leg.

Police said there were no skid marks to indicate the BMW's speed or that it tried to stop.

"Intoxication is not going to be an issue here. And we have ample witnesses to support that claim,'' Prospere said.

Goodrich was seen at the Silver City Cabaret, about five miles from the accident scene, with at least one other person sometime after 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

"At no time did Mr. Goodrich appear other than normal,'' general manager Tommy Charalambopoulos told the newspaper.

Prospere said he first met with Goodrich early Tuesday afternoon and that the player insisted that Dallas police be contacted.

Goodrich gave a voluntary statement to police and turned over the keys to the BMW without demanding a warrant, the attorney said.

"He wants to deal with it. He knows what a microscope he's under right now for being a Dallas Cowboy, and he's facing it. This is his worst nightmare come true.''

Authorities said Goodrich may also be charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Cynthia Matthews said Goodrich was "foolish'' for driving on, but that she harbors no ill will.

"If he was a wise man, he would have stopped,'' she said. "We're so grateful that he did come forward. I don't have animosity or hatred toward him, I don't care who he is. We thank God Dwayne was able to come forward. He will have to pay a penalty, and we all have to pay a penalty.''

"Our investigation is ongoing,'' Dallas police Senior Cpl. Chris Gilliam said Wednesday. "We charged him with two manslaughters last night. As the investigation continues, we'll have to see what develops.''

At Tennessee, Goodrich was the defensive MVP of the 1999 Fiesta Bowl after returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown in the Volunteers' 23-16 victory over Florida State that won the national championship.

The Cowboys made him their top pick in the 2000 draft, taken 49th overall. But he hasn't been a significant contributor for the Cowboys through his first three seasons, missing a year and a half with injuries.

Goodrich was arrested in 1999, during his senior year at Tennessee, on a charge of disorderly conduct. Those charges were later dropped, but Goodrich conceded that he was "drinking too much.''

The Cowboys had little to say about the arrest.

"It is a police matter, and we will continue to monitor the developments,'' said Calvin Hill, coordinator of the team's Player Assistance department. "We are deeply saddened for the families who have experienced the loss of life.''

Goodrich is the latest Cowboy to run into legal problems in recent years.

Former offensive lineman Nate Newton, who was already serving a federal drug sentence in Texas, was sentenced last month to five years in prison for possession of 213 pounds of marijuana in Louisiana.

Newton was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in 1990 and 1993 but was not convicted either time.

Former receiver Michael Irvin pleaded no contest to cocaine possession charges in 1996. He was arrested last year after police found him in a house where drugs were present, but those charges were dropped.

Retired Cowboy Mark Tuinei, who played on the line with Newton, died from a heroin overdose in 1999.

[MeekOneGOP]

This guy was doing over 100 MPH in the MEDIAN when he hit and killed two people. If this guy wasn't under the influence, I'll kiss your...

Yep, LOL ! Check this out...

Cowboy admits role in fatal crash - police were following tip; player was at a Dallas topless club

[dfwgator]

I bet the guy is toast. Out of the NFL, and in jail.

The guy was toast even before that, Terrell Owens made sure of that.

[CanisMajor2002]

Ugh! I can't find the old comic where it showed a pair of handcuffs, and the caption read, "Dallas Super Bowl Rings" :)

[InvisibleChurch]

He'll be sentenced to community service.

[MeekOneGOP]

Families making burial arrangements for victims

Thanks for the update, EMB !...

[MeekOneGOP]

Re: Community service.

At the Silver City Cabaret, I'll bet...

Cowboy admits role in fatal crash - police were following tip; player was at a Dallas topless club

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yep, gotta love the NFL. The legacy of wife-beating, drug felonies, and DUI deaths continues.

[MeekOneGOP]

Ugh! I can't find the old comic where it showed a pair of handcuffs, and the caption read, "Dallas Super Bowl Rings" :)

LOL !

Dallas Super Bowl Rings