INDEPENDENCE, Mo., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Former NFL linebacker Wayne Simmons, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, was killed early Friday in a one-car crash near Independence, Mo. He was 32.
Witnesses told police that Simmons' Mercedes Sedan was speeding on Interstate 70 eastbound at about 2:40 a.m. when it veered between traffic, left the roadway and overturned several times.
The vehicle caught fire and passing motorists were unable to extricate Simmons, according to Sgt. David Ison. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was confined to the engine block, then removed him. Simmons, who later was pronounced dead at Independence Regional Hospital.
According to the Kansas City Star, police said his death did not appear to have been caused by the fire and that he was the only person in the car.
The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner's office. Results of toxicology tests are not expected for a week, Ison said.
Simmons, a resident of nearby Lee's Summit was
drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round in 1993 out of Clemson. He won a Super Bowl with Green Bay in January 1997 before finishing his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
Ironically, Lee's Summit was also the most recent hometown of former Royals and St. Louis catcher Darrell Porter, who also died recently of what might have been a drug-related death. An examination done by the medical examiner's office showed traces of cocaine in Porter's blood system.
