‘Completely broken’: Family of Fort Worth dad killed in hit-and-run asks for public’s help
The family of a Fort Worth man who was killed in a hit-and-run while skateboarding on Feb. 2 is asking the public for help finding the driver, his sister told the Star-Telegram.
Ryon Smith, 40, was skateboarding in the 5800 block of Wedgwood Drive on the night of Feb. 2 when he was hit by a vehicle, his family said.
Fort Worth police officers responded to the crash scene at around 10 p.m. and Smith was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, police said.
He died in the hospital days later, his family said.
“Everybody that encountered him really enjoyed him and loved him,” his sister, LauraBeth Plumlee, said.
Smith loved to play the guitar and “spent every moment he could with his girls,” two daughters age 13 and 16, Plumlee said.
Plumlee wants her brother to be remembered as an “awesome guy” who “always wanted other people to smile.”
Detectives asked Smith’s family on Monday to provide security video of the hit-and-run, Plumlee said. The family is asking anyone who lives in the area and has security cameras to check for footage of a damaged vehicle driving past. A description of the vehicle has not been released.
“I have two nieces that are completely broken right now and I am running out of options,” Plumlee said. “I’m sorry that [the driver] didn’t have the courage to turn back and help my brother.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM.
