Wreck claims life of Slidell senior

Published Thursday, July 5, 2007

By Brian Knox

A Slidell High School student was killed Friday night in Denton County in a head-on collision.

Wil Goode, 16, died in the accident which happened around 7:20 p.m. on Farm Road 1173 just east of the intersection with South Hickory Road near Krum.

According to Department of Public Safety Trooper Mark Tomerlin in Denton, Goode was a passenger in a car driven by Devin Perkins, 20, also of Slidell. They were traveling eastbound when they were struck by a westbound car attempting to pass another vehicle.

The driver of the car attempting to pass was identified as Amanda Carnes, 16, also a Slidell High School student.

Perkins and another passenger, Wil’s 20-year-old sister, Jamie Goode, were taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Denton. Carnes and a 16-year-old passenger, Emily Maxwell, were also taken to the hospital. Maxwell is also a student at Slidell High School.

Wil Goode was also taken to Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 8:30 p.m.

Tomerlin said Carnes was trying to pass a pickup during a rain storm when the accident occurred. He said the accident was caused by “high speed, wet roads and an inexperienced driver.” He said drugs or alcohol were not a factor.

No citations were written, although Tomerlin said charges are pending on Carnes. He said he will wait until he sees the results of the speed analysis before determining what that charge will be.

Wil Goode would have been a senior at Slidell High School this year. He was active in the Future Farmers of America club and was a member of the Wise County 4-H Horse Judging Team. He was also a member of the Sycamore Baptist Church Youth Group.

The news shocked students in the small school district. Wil Goode’s friend and classmate Stephanie Taylor said he had sent her a text message just a few hours before the accident.

“It’s horrible. Nobody can believe it,” she said.

Taylor described Wil Goode as “really nice – quiet and shy.”

On Tuesday, hundreds of people packed the First Baptist Church of Slidell to pay their respects. Wil Goode was buried at Sycamore Cemetery.

Wil was the son of Conda and Tom Goode of Greenwood.