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American Idol Alum Rickey Smith Dead at 36

He was reportedly killed by a drunk driver

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Liz Raftery

Rickey Smith, who finished in eighth place on Season 2 of American Idol, was killed in a car accident in Oklahoma Thursday night, TMZ reports. He was 36.

Smith's vehicle was struck head-on just outside Oklahoma City by a man who was driving the wrong way down I-240. According to reports, the other driver was hospitalized and has been charged with driving under the influence.

Among Smith's more memorable moments on Idol were a performance of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove," as well as his repeated chants of "Hercules! Hercules!" during his run on the show.

Watch Smith's American Idol Country Week performance above.