09/09/2026
On this day in 1959, a tragic car accident claimed the life of a promising West Indies cricketer.
Former West Indies all-rounder Collie Smith was just 25 when he passed away, leaving behind a career that had already shown so much promise.
His rise to international cricket was remarkably quick. In 1955, playing only his third first-class match, Smith scored a century for Jamaica against the touring Australian team. That performance earned him a Test call-up, and he made the most of it, scoring a century on debut and becoming just the fourth West Indies player to achieve the feat.
He was more than just a batsman, though. Smith was a useful spinner too, and one of his finest all-round performances came during the fifth Test of the 1958–59 tour of India. He scored a century and finished with match figures of 8 for 184.
By 1959, he was making his mark in English league cricket as well. Playing for Burnley, Smith scored an unbeaten 306, setting a Lancashire League record at the time.
But it was during that same season that tragedy struck.
Smith was travelling to London with his West Indies teammates, Sir Garry Sobers and Tom Dewdney, to attend a charity game. They were already running late because of London traffic. Smith was asleep in the backseat while Sobers was driving when their car collided with a cattle truck.
All three initially appeared to have escaped with only minor injuries. Smith, in particular, seemed to be fine. He even told Sobers, “Don’t worry about me. Look after the big fellow,” referring to Dewdney.
Sadly, those would be his last words.
Although he appeared alright at first, Smith had suffered a severe spinal injury and soon fell into a coma. He never regained consciousness and passed away three days later.
The tragedy was made even more heartbreaking by his age. At just 25, Smith had already achieved so much, yet he still had so much more to offer, both as a cricketer and as a young man.
His body was taken back to Jamaica, where more than 60,000 people reportedly attended his funeral. Later, Sobers was fined and had his driving licence suspended for a month after being found guilty of careless driving by Stone Magistrates’ Court.
At Jamaica’s May Pen Cemetery, Smith’s tombstone carries five words that seem to capture the man he was:
Keen Cricketer. Unselfish Friend. Worthy Hero. Loyal Disciple. Happy Warrior.
A fitting tribute to a young man whose life was cut tragically short, but whose memory has never been forgotten.
