The Delaware Online is featuring a story on ROH star Jay Briscoe (Jamin Pugh), who was tragically killed on Tuesday in a crash. He was 38.
The story also mentions from an earlier statement from Ashley Pugh, wife of Jay, that their daughters, Gracie and Jayleigh were also injured in the head-on crash. The driver of the other vehicle was killed.
Jana Pugh, Jamin’s mother and a member of the Laurel School District Board of Education, said that both of Jamin’s daughters have had emergency surgeries, and doctors aren’t sure if one will be able to walk again.
The story also states that Jana said Jamin was “a family guy.” He would do cheerleading dances with his daughters, even putting a bow in his hair to match them. Jamin had just spent the weekend at one of their cheer competitions in North Carolina. Jana said that she could hear Jamin cheering in the background of the videos that he sent her.
Furthermore the story notes that Jana said she’s received an outpouring of messages and support from people her son met all around the world. On social media, many Delawareans have changed their profile pictures to the silhouette of a dog with “#prayersforthePughs” underneath it.
Laurel School District announced on Facebook Tuesday night that all schools would be closed Wednesday “due to an unthinkable tragedy in our community.”
The district is set to reopen on Thursday. They have also asked people to “please keep the Pugh Family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Jamin Pugh was beloved in Laurel community
The second half of the story in the Delaware Online says that even though Jamin was well known as a professional wrestler, his athletic interests began at Laurel High School and he continued to be a positive influence on area athletes.
Kevin Walmsley, Laurel High School’s Athletic Director told the news publication Jamin was at school almost every day.” He was also a first-team All-Henlopen Conference Southern Division fullback and linebacker and an honorable mention All-State linebacker before he graduated from Laurel in 2002 on football teams coached by his father, Mike. More recently, Jamin was an assistant coach on the Laurel Middle School football team, on which his son, Gannon, played on. In additional he coached youth basketball in the town.
Delaware State Police said in a statement released on Wednesday that Jamin Pugh, with his two daughters in the back, was driving east in a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 on Laurel Road near Goose Nest Road at 5:09 pm local time on Tuesday. At the same time, another Chevrolet Silverado driven by 27-year-old Frankford resident Lillyanne Ternahan was heading in the opposite direction on Laurel Road. Ternahan then drifted across the center line for “unknown reasons,” ending up in a head-on-collision. Both drivers were killed in the crash.
Delaware Police also noted that Jamin Pugh was not wearing a seat belt, but that Ternahan and Pugh’s daughters were.
Police were still investigating the crash as of Wednesday and have not yet determined the cause. The road was closed for about four hours on Tuesday night.
Jay and Mark had captured the ROH World Tag Team Championships from FTR in a dog collar match at the December 2022 Final PPV to become holders of the tag titles for the 13th time. He and Mark are also members of the ROH Hall of Fame.
AEW tapes a tribute special Wednesday night
Tuesday night and into Wednesday, the wrestling industry paid tribute to Jay Briscoe. Per Fightful, during AEW Dynamite on Wednesday night, Jay Lethal, The Best Friends (Trent & Chuckie T) wore black armbands. The Young Bucks also wore black armbands. AEW CEO and President Tony Khan announced that after AEW Dynamite and at the conclusion of the Rampage taping, AEW would film a special ROH tribute to Jay that will be available for free on Honor Club and the ROH YouTube Channel.