Tragedy strikes Ruston family

Tragedy has struck a young Ruston family while on vacation in Idaho for the Fourth of July holiday.

While traveling on a tandem bicycle with a trailer behind it, Daniel and Beth Huey and their small children, Faith and Paul, were struck by a car the morning of July 4. Beth and Paul succumbed to their injuries at the scene while Daniel and Faith were transported to hospitals, where they remain as of Wednesday.

According to Idaho State Police and a story published in the Idaho State Journal, the accident occurred at 8:20 a.m. on U.S. Hwy. 93 just north of Jackpot, Nevada, along the Idaho and Nevada state line. The Hueys were struck by a 2013 Infiniti sedan driven by a 41-year-old male.

Daniel Huey is the organist at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston and is also an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Grambling State University. Beth Huey was accomplished as a flute player and joined in with her husband during many musical numbers at the church.

“Over the past couple of years, the Huey family has been a great blessing to the Temple family,” said Reggie Bridges, senior pastor. “Whether through Beth’s radiant smile or through Daniel’s worshipful music, we have been encouraged by them. We now grieve with the Hueys as they experience unimaginable loss, and we pray that the God of all comfort will strengthen them. We especially ask the Father to bring healing to Daniel and Faith in these moments.”

Daniel and Faith Huey are recovering in separate hospitals in Idaho. There was no update of their conditions as of press time other than they will need extensive time to heal from injuries.

“We, as a congregation, stand ready to support the Hueys in every way possible, and we hope the community will join us in that effort as well,” Bridges added. “The Hueys truly are our family, and we commit to be there for them through these difficult days.”

The Huey family weren’t strangers to biking. In fact, Daniel and Beth Huey had planned to eventually visit every county and parish in the United States and catalog their travels, according to Temple Minister of Music Jeremy Asher. Residents around Ruston’s northwest side of town have probably seen the Huey family biking together. Asher said they recorded every mile of every ride they’ve taken along with maps of where they’ve traveled.

“Since the Huey family moved to Ruston in 2020, my family and I have grown to love both Daniel and Beth, and their precious children,” Asher said. “As much as we admire their vast musical talents, their kind-hearted friendship and hospitality is what endeared us to them even more. The sense of loss that we feel is heavy, but as Daniel shared with me by phone, we know that Beth and Paul are with Jesus now. Our hearts ache even greater for our heavenly home, even as we are committed to help Daniel and Faith in the recovery ahead until the Lord calls us home, too.”

Daniel Huey obtained his doctorate in music theory from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2017 after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2006 with a master’s degree in music theory. He studied his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois.

Prior to arriving at GSU in 2020, he taught as an Assistant Professor of Music at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

“This is truly heartbreaking,” said GSU President Rick Gallot. “The Grambling State University community mourns with Dr. Huey and will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers as they navigate through this difficult time.”

A Huey Family Relief Fund has been established at Origin Bank in Ruston. For more information on how to contribute to the account, call 318-255-2222.