During the summer season, gay people around the country often have fun and enjoyment by attending prides in various cities.  It is a time of bliss and freedom. Recently the bliss came to a tragic end for three men returning from Chicago.

 

A popular young gay man,  Eric Lamar Turner died in a terrible car accident returning from the Chicago Gay pride. Turner  was a former CoCo Dorm model "Lamar" and promising actor.

The accident  took place the day after the final day of Chicago Gay Pride. It was a rainy Monday morning, on I-65 near Lafayette, Indiana. Turner and two passengers were headed to the state capitol of Indianapolis in a rented Mazda.

According to police, Turner slammed, head on, into a tractor-trailer truck. The car split into two pieces. Turner and his passengers were killed immediately. State Police Sgt. Kim Rile tells local news, WTHR-TV "It's not surprising that no one lived." "We assume Turner just wasn't paying attention or just came off the roadway and lost control in the wet grass."

Police say the crash was so severe that seatbelts would not have prevented injury or death. They believe the driver was wearing a seatbelt. However, they could not determine if the passengers had seatbelts on.

Jocqueline Turner, Eric's grandmother, said Eric Lamar had lived in New York, Alabama and Indianapolis before returning to Louisville.

The other victims, also from Louisville, were Tyrone Alexander Richie Jr., 18, and Julius Mitchell, 19.

Eric Lamar Turner was 23 years old. Funeral services were held this past Sunday at Refuge in Kentucky Church, 207 S. Hancock St., Louisville.

Sources: The Courier Journal & Times, WTHR Indianapolis