The university regrets to inform the RSU family that one of its students was killed early Thursday afternoon in a car wreck in Owasso.
Cameron Hood, a radio/TV junior from Owasso, was killed during a three-car wreck at 106th Street North and 129th East Avenue in Owasso. The cause of the wreck is under investigation, but initial press reports indicate inclement weather conditions were not believed to be a factor in the accident, which happened around noon. Funeral services are pending.
A 2009 graduate from Owasso High School, Hood was a photographer and editor at Channel 2 in Tulsa in addition to taking classes at RSU.
Communications Assistant Professor Lee Williams said Cameron made a big impact in his short time at RSU and faculty members were trying to lure him away from his job with Channel 2 to become its Mac Lab video editing tutor.
“Cameron came for advisement from TCC last spring. We were delighted to have such a strong student transfer into our program,” Williams said. “He was already experienced in shooting video and editing with three different kinds of software. He was a star student since he was already working professionally. The communications industry will be less because we will not see his creations.”
Assistant Professor Cathy Coomer said, “knowing and spending time with Cameron was special; he was a very gifted and talented young man and I enjoyed him so much in class. Our department has lost a student we were very proud of and all our saddened by his loss.”
In a statement on the KJRH website, Channel 2 Chief Photographer Phil Willette praised Cameron for his dedication to the profession.
“Cameron carried himself professionally and more importantly, he possessed an empathy and sensitivity for the people he was covering. I liked that about him. Here was a guy who would treat everyone with respect at some pretty hairy times. That’s a trait you can’t teach anyone and he was wise beyond his years for having that gift.”
RSU sends its condolences to Cameron’s family and all students, faculty and staff who knew him.