Just one day after Company of Heroes Online went into open beta, the lead designer of the Relic-developed free-to-play RTS title died in a car crash in the Seattle area on Friday that also killed two other people, according to online media stories. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer web site reports that 33-year old Brian R. Wood was driving a Toyota Subaru when reportedly a Chevy Blazer crossed the center line and collided with his car near Oak Harbor, Washington.

Wood reportedly died at the scene. His wife Erin, who is six months pregnant, survived and was hospitalized, according to the report. Two other people in the Blazer were thrown from the car and were also killed. Police may charge the driver and the other surviving Blazer passenger with vehicular homicide, according to the report.

Wood worked as a designer for previous games in Relic's Company of Heroes RTS series before moving on to be the lead designer for Company of Heroes Online. As of the time of this post, Relic has yet to make an official statement about Wood's death. We certainly express out deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife, family and co-workers at Relic.

[Via Relic News. Image via Machinima.com]