Taylor Swift fan gets killed after watching Eras Tour concert; fans raise funds for fellow Swiftie
A young man has died after being hit by a suspected drunk driver shortly after leaving a Taylor Swift concert.
According to KPRC, 20-year-old Jacob Charles Lewis, who was with his sister April Bancroft, ran into some car issues as they left the NGR Stadium in Houston, Texas on April 22.
Lewis got off the car and was trying to move it towards an exit in the northbound lane of the 900 Southwest Freeway when a Volkswagen Beetle hit him, the Houston Police statement said.
The suspect, Bryant Hayes, "stopped and got out and helped my daughter pull my son, pull Jacob from under his driver-side tire," according to Lewis' dad, Steve. He alleged it was a hit-and-run incident, saying, "Only after that did he get back in his car and drive off and leave."
Hayes got off the scene but was caught by a tow truck driver and taken into custody by officers. The suspect was charged with a DWI and failure to stop and render aid, the police said.
In light of the tragic event, Swifties have made $13 donations to Lewis' GoFundMe page. As of writing, it now has $123,482 (P6,868,254) donations by 8.2k individuals.
"I’m so very deeply sorry for you loss. I lost my dad in 2019 to a drunk driver while riding his bicycle. It is the worst kind of pain to experience, senseless, heartbreaking, unfair, and so frustrating. My thoughts are with you from another Swiftie," wrote one donor.
"I’m so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, fellow Swiftie. 'You were bigger than the whole sky,'" one fan wrote, quoting a Taylor Swift song.
"I was a musical theatre major at Sam (Houston State University) for a while. I was actually part of the first cohort to be part of the program. My son’s name is Jacob. Your story hits so close to home and I am so sorry. May you find peace in the storm," another wrote.
Lewis was an avid Pokemon TCG player and had competed the World Championships for many years. His dad is known in the Pokemon community as well.
"It hurts us to see him (Steve) suffer such a loss. We only wish to help him honor the memory of his son by raising money for flowers and funeral costs. That his Pokémon family is here to help," the GoFundMe description read.