Texas Tragedy

Students of UT grad killed while jogging in Libya take to Twitter to remember beloved teacher

Smith was set to join his wife and young son back in the United States for Christmas.

Photo by Ronnie Smith Instagram

The Austin community is in mourning today after news that former University of Texas at Austin graduate Ronnie Smith was killed in Libya while jogging. According to KUT, Smith was also a teaching pastor at the Austin Stone Community Church.

The 33-year-old father was a teacher at the International School Benghazi, according to NBC News.

Benghazi principal tells @TerryMoran dead teacher Ronnie Smith set to join wife & children in US for Xmas at weekend pic.twitter.com/EE35PCERdS

-- Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) December 5, 2013 ">According to ABC foreign editor Jon Williams, Smith was preparing to join his wife and son back in the United States for the Christmas holiday.

His students in Benghazi have already gone to Twitter to celebrate the wit and wisdom of their beloved teacher using the hashtag #MrSmithMemories.

#MrSmithMemories when he told us the story of how him and his wife met, and how she was his first and last. <3

— R.I.P Ronnie (@Voldemental)

December 5, 2013

He was my favourite teacher, made fun of my chemistry skills and I laughed every time. Mr Smith R.I.P

— R.I.P Ronnie (@Voldemental) December 5, 2013

Harlem shake in his room during the bake sale #MrSmithMemories

— Your mom. (@umyeahidek) December 5, 2013

#MrSmithMemories baked me 2 batches of peanut butter cookies on my birthday and sang happy birthday in arabic

— yomna ❁ (@yzentani) December 5, 2013

#MrSmithMemories helping me write my personal statement for uni.. "start with assalamu alekam brothers, this email will self destruct in..."

— yomna ❁ (@yzentani) December 5, 2013

#MrSmithMemories He once told me he would stay in Libya even if he had no job. He was here for the experience. There is no better man.

— ροττer Δ (@Criminimed) December 5, 2013

#MrSmithMemories he would call is all corny for doing this but we love him

— R.I.P Ronnie (@Voldemental) December 5, 2013

The International School Benghazi took to their official Facebook page, saying,

"The untimely death of Ronnie Smith has been felt by the whole school community. He was a much loved teacher who supported students in their learning and always had time to help when asked. Ronnie was a professional who gave his time freely and without question. We do not understand why this has happened and it is extremely difficult for his students and his colleagues to accept."

Back here in Austin, UT also released an official statement calling Smith's death, "a tragedy for the campus and our nation." Smith graduated in 2006 with a degree in chemistry.

While no one has taken responsibility for Smith's death, it comes almost 15 months after an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that killed U.S. ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other officials. Both the U.S. and the British governments have warned their citizens against traveling to the country, which, according to The Guardian, is enduring some of the worst violence since 2011 revolution.

Ronnie Smith was a beloved teacher at the International School Benghazi.

Photo by Ronnie Smith Twitter

Ronnie Smith was a beloved teacher at the International School Benghazi.

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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