Thomas Wells, who competed as a singer on X Factor USA and The Winner Is died in a terrible work accident earlier this week.
Thomas’s wife, Jessica Wells, tells TMZ that part of Thomas’s body was caught in an “automatic conveyor belt type of machine at a tire manufacturing plant in Oklahoma where he worked. When his body got caught, the conveyor did not stop. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Idabel, Oklahoma.
According to Thomas’s wife, he was then airlifted to a bigger hospital in Tyler, Texas, where the doctors thought specialists might be able to help him.
However, Thomas died in the hospital in Tyler back on November 13, reports TMZ.
Thomas got into music at an early age, teaching himself to play instruments by ear and singing choir at church and in school in Oklahoma. He mostly sang hymns and contemporary music.
TMZ reports that in addition to X Factor, Thomas also appeared on The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and The Winner Is. However, after several searches, I only found evidence that he competed on X Factor and The Winner Is.
On X Factor USA season 1, he performed Rascal Flatts’ “God Bless Broken Road” at the Dallas auditions. However, Thomas wasn’t seen on camera until Boot Camp week where he was cut on the last day. Thomas was shown in a large group where he performed Rascal Flatts’ “I Won’t Let Go.”
On The Winner Is, a summer musical game show that aired for one season in summer 2013, he was cut after once again singing “God Bless the Broken Road.” American Idol 6 alum, Lakisha Jones, also competed on the show, hosted by Nick Lachey, and was eliminated from the week 7 episode.
Thomas uploaded the last video to his Youtube channel 7 years ago. He posted a low-res clip of his X Factor audition, and his The Winner Is performance. He also sang in the Wal-Mart associates choir in 1999.
His wife of 17 years is remembering him as a unique person who always had a smile on his face and tried to make people laugh. She says he would sometimes bust out singing and didn’t mind the spotlight. Thomas was 46.
