Dave died in a car accident in South Carolina, where he had moved to start a new job (picture from 1983).

Sent in by Carol Sommers:

David Scott Mitchell was an active member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity during his college years, and received his Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus, in the spring of 1983. Soon after graduation, David accepted a position as a computer programmer for Santee Cooper, a state-owned electric and water utility and the largest power producer in the state. David relocated from Columbia, SC to North Charleston immediately upon his employment, and worked at the Monks Corner office.

On 2 October 1983, David’s car was stopped at a red light in Columbia, SC, when a friend of his pulled their car next to his, and they both waited for the light to turn green. When the light turned green, his friend turned right, and David traveled forward about 200 yards and died after his car made impact with a low concrete wall located at the point where the road split, with an overpass to the left, and a side street to the right. It is believed that David became distracted by the broken self-extending radio antenna located on the passenger rear side of the new 1983 Toyota Celica that he had purchased one week earlier. The antenna was damaged the previous day when David drove his car through a car wash with the antenna in the up position, and the attenna would extend from the car whenever the radio was turned on.

The passer-by who called the police initially believed that David was improperly parked in front of the structure, and sleeping, noting that David's car did not show any damage. Medical personnel explained that even though it was a low impact collision to the car, when David’s chest hit the steering wheel, the location of the impact was like a punch to the heart, and fluid filled the area around the heart, much like a heart attack, and that is what killed him. Except for the heart injury, there were no visible signs that David had been in any accident.  

David had not been wearing a seatbelt, which was not required by law at that time.  His untimely passing was a loss to all who knew him. To honor David's memory, it is strongly urged that people wear their seatbelts.