According to the Christmas Eve edition of the Dallas Morning News, Robert Tucker was riding in the front passenger seat of a Ford Explorer Super Trac with three other boys when the accident occurred. The driver, who was the son of a police officer, lost control of the pickup truck in a parking lot and rolled over, hitting a tree.
As of Christmas Eve it was still to be determined if the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The Dallas Morning News reported that police officers believed the driver may have been speeding and lost control of the vehicle in the parking lot behind the SuperTarget at Plano and Spring Valley roads in Richardson, Texas.
Tucker was described as a remarkable young man, well-liked by all who knew him. A student at Berkner High School, he was active in the Scouting movement and was company commander of Berkner's JROTC.
"He was a sweet, nice kid," said his mother, Peggy Tucker. "What personified him was being with people he loved."
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"He was always happy, cheerful," said Waleed Hymore, 16, who sometimes played basketball with Tucker. "No one talked bad about him. He got along with everybody."
Tucker's father, Rob Tucker, told the Dallas Morning News that his son was considering attending Texas A&M University or the US Military Academy at West Point.
As of Christmas Eve no charges had been filed. It was reported that the relationship of the driver to a police officer will have no bearing on the case.
The truck slid and rotated clockwise, forcing the right wheels to leave the pavement. It rolled, hit a curb and uprooted a small tree before coming to a stop upright. Three other boys were treated for minor injuries at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Texas.