Jacob Lewis: Taylor Swift fan, 20, killed in Texas by drunk driver shortly after leaving concert
HOUSTON, TEXAS: A suspected drunk driver hit and killed a 20-year-old fan shortly after leaving a Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert in Houston, Texas. The incident took place on the Southwest Freeway in the early hours of Saturday, April 22, at 1.15 am, Houston Police Department said.
Jacob Charles Lewis and his sister, April Bancroft, were in a red Buick LaCrosse when their vehicle became stuck in the northbound lane. As Lewis stepped out to push the car toward an exit and reached the shoulder, a black Volkswagen Beetle driven by 34-year-old Alan Bryant Hayes struck both Lewis and his vehicle.
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'It was the night I had been looking forward to for a very long time and turned for the absolute worst'
Jacob Charles Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, while his sister April Bancroft sustained minor injuries with bruises and scrapes. "It was the night I had been looking forward to for a very long time and turned for the absolute worst," Bancroft told KPRC. "What I hope will be the worst thing I have to live through."
Meanwhile, the driver of the black Volkswagen Beetle, identified as 34-year-old Alan Bryant Hayes, fled the scene after helping Bancroft pull Jacob from under his driver-side tire. "Well, he stopped and got out and helped my daughter pull my son, pull Jacob, from under his driver-side tire and only after that did he get back in his car and drive off and leave," Steve Lewis, Jacob's father, said according to the outlet.
Jacob Lewis 'excelled in theater' and was going to start his sophomore year this fall
Lewis, who had already "excelled" at the theater, choir, and dance in high school, was about to begin his sophomore year in the musical theater program at Sam Houston State University this fall, but as per his father Steve, "Jacob left this world much too early." His family was looking forward "to new exciting adventures and successes to come," according to a Facebook post from Jacob's father.
'A faithful young man'
Jacob Charles Lewis was known for his love of singing and music, but according to his father Steve, he was also passionate about his studies, friends, and hobbies. "He enjoyed being a dungeon master for his friends' pursuits in Dungeons and Dragons," Steve said. Jacob was also an accomplished player of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, having competed in three World Championships. "Jacob competed against players from all over the world in Vancouver in 2013, Boston in 2015, and San Francisco in 2016," Steve said.
Steve remembered Jacob as a "faithful young man who was loyal to his family and friends." He added, "His last act was to push his sister to safety on a dark street. There is no way to describe the magnitude of this loss and the emptiness left in our hearts."
Hayes was arrested twice before on DWI charges
A two-truck driver, whom Steve called a hero, as per the report, chased Hayes, and police were able to stop him in the 4500 block of Caroline Street, where he fled on foot. The police were able to track him down and take him into custody. He has been charged with DWI and failure to stop and render aid. Court records cited by the outlet revealed that Hayes had been arrested twice before on the same charges.
"Jacob Lewis and his sister were returning from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Houston. On the way home, their car stalled. Jacob at once started to push the car when he was tragically hit and killed by a drunk driver," Miguel Andrade, who is organizing a GoFundMe fundraiser for funerals and memorials wrote.