Relic Lead Designer Killed, Saving Pregnant Wife
A split-second decision killed Relic lead designer Brian Wood but saved his pregnant wife.
Relic Entertainment lead designer Brian Wood was killed Friday in an auto accident that took place in Washington state. Wood's wife of five years, Erin Wood, said that he made a split-second decision to maneuver the car just before impact so that she would live to give birth to their first child.
Wood was driving their 2004 Subaru Outback to the family home on Whidbey Island when an out-of-control 1994 Chevy Blazer came bearing down the highway. To avoid a head-on collision and minimize the damage, Wood slammed on the brakes and turned a sharp right so that the oncoming car would slam into the driver's side of the vehicle.
"All the policeman say that if we had hit the car head-on all of us would be dead," Erin Wood said. "At the very last second (Brian) braked really hard and turned right so that he would be put in the path of the SUV and not me and the baby, and that is the only thing that saved us both."
The Chevy Blazer, carrying four occupants, crossed over the center line when the driver tried to remove her sweater--the other front seat passenger took control of the wheel. When Wood braked and swerved, the Chevy Blazer plowed over the Subaru and crushed the roof with its wheels. Using the Subaru as a makeshift ramp, the SUV launched into the air, landed on its roof, and then rolled back over onto its wheels.
Although Wood was killed, his wife didn't emerge unscathed--she received a non-life-threatening head injury. Two passengers in the rear of the SUV--both not wearing seat belts--were killed, and the passenger suffered a broken pelvis. The driver is currently in custody awaiting formal charges of three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault. Both the driver and passenger are under investigation related to drug use.
As for the baby, it's still on track for a November 5 appointment, unharmed by the accident.
"I am not quite sure how I am supposed to live the rest of my life without [Brian]," Erin Wood said. "He truly was a gift and I wouldn’t change a thing of any of our moments together. (The baby is) due Nov. 5 so it will come quick and then I look forward to seeing little glimpses of Brian in our baby and that gives me a lot of strength right now."
Brian Wood was known for his work on the Company of Heroes series.
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Dang I was just playing Company of Heroes.
RIP Brian Wood the Hero.
wow, very sad
God Bless the innocents.
Dude, he had balls. "The greatest love is this, that one man lays down his life for another."
Somethings in life are worth dieing for and this is one of them. This man is a hero and sadly most people only take the easy way out.
Rest in Peace..... A moment of silence.
read about this earlier on kotaku. such a sad story, but least the man was a gamer till the end and knew it was about the team and the objective and less about the self. I'm glad to hear his wife and soon to be child are okay, his spirit will live on.
"True Sacrifice"
the achievement you can only earn once.
That Bravery is amazing.
So sad. No need to flame the drivers of the Blazer, they definitely are going to pay for what they did. Good man Brian and your quick thinking while driving. You will be missed.
obviously a good man I'm sure he will be missed.
RIP
RIP.
Good man to think on his feet, not panic and do what any husband should be willing to do.
The man has earned my respect and that isn't given out freely.
RIP
seriously, so much respect for Brian. You are a hero to your family...! rest in paradise
Now thats a real Hero!
not to mention i do still play COH on a regular basis.
still, very sad.. Some people just shouldn't be driving
Simple decision can turn tragic. A joint, a drink or two won't hurt. And so is multi-task while driving.
Changing sweater while driving, really?
The driver deserves 3 life sentences back to back to back, for each 3 lives she took.
the company of a hero, a true relic, has passed in such a way i'm shocked and awed at the same time on so many levels.
I have to say that those were DIPS in the other car. You do NOT try to remove stuff from your body while your car is in motion. You stop the car first and THEN take off the clothing in question.
Yeah, this guy falls into the category of hero in my opinion.
Our company specializes in manufacturing from located in CHINA and Netherlands,With more than 6 Years of
DID YOU JUST F***ing SPAM a post where one is talking about a guy who died saving his family!?!?! GTFO.
Anyways, RIP man.
Idiots. Seriously. They put seat belts in cars for a reason you know.
Please remove said driver from the gene pool.
very sad story,
i have lots of respect for brian, having the clarity of mind in a crisis to make that choice is amazing.
RIP Brian, i hope your new family live long healthy lives.
Obviously a happy guy enjoying life and who loves his family. I really don't like hearing about these things. It's...just...not...fair...
I really don't like hearing about these things. It's...just...not...fair...
Life isn't fair. the only thing certain about life is death. that kinda puts some of my current struggles in perspective.
Dang, now I sound like an emo.
Damn, this is sad. Bad. Respect to Wood. You're a hero.
It makes me wonder sometimes... I know sitting in my chair thinking about it, I would of course say I'd do the exact same in his position. Lots of people would say that because it's easy to. I have a lot of respect for the man for actually being able to DO that when it counted in a split second. While I absolutely feel that sacrifice is well worth it, it makes me wonder if I would be as much of a man if that were me in that split second when it counts, NOT when I'm sitting at home in my chair.
On another note, I wonder if his gamer reflexes helped...
very sad story,i have lots of respect for brian, having the clarity of mind in a crisis to make that choice is amazing.RIP Brian, i hope your new family live long healthy lives.
No, I've been in a similar situation, twice. (though with the directions of the cars both times it wasn't nearly as threatening a situation) Only it was my best friend in the passenger seat not a wife.
Only difference is I managed to barely avoid the accident in general - not cheapening his sacrifice or anything, just saying the only thing going through your mind is 'oh s***'.
But yes this is a very sad occurrence.
Respect
Bitter-Sweat, but he's a hero. I know I'd do the same for my wife with or without child. We all die, but so few die a hero.
No words can describe the honor that is due this man for his self-sacrifice. RIP.
R.I.P.
you truly are a hero
Video Game icon gives his life for his wife.
Sports hero [Tiger Woods] spends his life screwing arround behind his wife's back.
Let's just be honest. Sports are a way worse influence on young children than video games.
Very sad to hear this, RIP. I hope his Wife, Child, and family all the best.
Always a shame when someone elses carlessness leads to such a tragity like this.