Rickey Smith dead: American idol finalist dies aged 36

Smith was killed in a car crash in his hometown of Oklahoma

Rickey Smith died in a car crash overnight (Getty Images)

Rickey Smith, a former contestant on American idol, has been killed in a car crash. He was 36.

Smith was a contestant on the second season of the singing competition in 2003, making it to the finals and finishing in eighth place.

He died in a multi-car crash in Oklahoma on Thursday, Variety reports. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said his death was the result of multiple blunt force injuries.

Ruben Studdard, the winner of that season, said he was in “utter disbelief” at the news of his death.

“I think back on all the fun times we had,” he wrote on Instagram. “How we set up for hours in our room in the Idol Mansion talking and listening to music. How much fun we all had on our very first tour. You were the heart of our season and the true definition of a real friend. I will miss you my friend, RIP Rickey Smith. I'm sure you're in heaven singing your heart out.”

Smith struggled to emulate his success on the show in real life and at one point worked in a sports bar in his hometown of Oklahoma, where his job was to sing happy birthday to customers.

“I almost had an album,” he told USA Today in 2008 after moving back to Oklahoma. ”I had some good people around me … I wasn't ready to accept the fact that I had to come back and give up music. I've made peace with it, but it's still frustrating.“