Single-vehicle accident claims life of Grambling State basketball player

A single-vehicle accident Friday evening claimed the life of former Grambling State University women’s basketball star Jazmin Boyd.

Ruston police said Boyd, 27, was traveling westbound on West Alabama Avenue around 7:30 p.m. when her vehicle hit a metal utility pole. The accident happened in a slight curve near The Heights apartment complex.

Boyd was pronounced dead at the scene, Ruston Police Department Deputy Chief Chad Hamlin said Monday.

Though the car was on fire, the responding officer was able to put it out, Hamlin said. Boyd had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Investigators said speed could have been a factor in the crash.

Boyd, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was a member of the GSU women’s basketball team from 2015-2019. She was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 and earned All-SWAC honors again in 2017.

In 2018, she helped lead the Lady Tigers to win the SWAC Tournament. Boyd also scored over 1,000 points during her collegiate career.