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| Courtesy Pittsburgh Steelers |
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Haskins, 24, was trying to cross Interstate 595's westbound lanes, near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County when he was struck by a dump truck around 6:30 a.m.
The patrol said in a news release the qaurterback, who was in South Florida working out with some Steelers teammates, had been "walking on (the highway) for unknown reasons."
No further details were available at the time, but a traffic homicide investigation is open.
Reaction to the death was quick. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wrote on Instagram that he was "devastated and at a loss for words" following the death.
"He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community," the post read. "Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time."
Before that he played collegiately at Ohio State where he finished third in the 2018 Heisman Trophy race.
Monday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day addressed the tragic death after practice in a press conference.
He said Ohio State players were hurting over the tragic loss and spoke of his close relationship with Haskins.
“When you think about Dwayne, you think about the compassion that he had,” Day said. “Certainly for all of his teammates and his friends, but he always took time after practice to be around family members, kids. He was like a big brother."
Day added that Haskins personally meant a lot to his family because of the player's close relationship with his son R. J.
"He meant a lot to this program. He is going to be missed," Day said. "We are all hurting… It makes you hug your loved ones a little bit more and you just understand how fragile life is.”
The patrol said in a news release the qaurterback, who was in South Florida working out with some Steelers teammates, had been "walking on (the highway) for unknown reasons."
No further details were available at the time, but a traffic homicide investigation is open.
Reaction to the death was quick. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wrote on Instagram that he was "devastated and at a loss for words" following the death.
"He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community," the post read. "Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time."
Haskins, who was drafted No. 15 in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders and played two seasons for them, signed a one-year restricted free agent tender in March with the Steelers and was expected to compete for the starting job in 2022.Statement from Head Coach Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/hI5QaKzBUq
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 9, 2022
Before that he played collegiately at Ohio State where he finished third in the 2018 Heisman Trophy race.
Monday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day addressed the tragic death after practice in a press conference.
He said Ohio State players were hurting over the tragic loss and spoke of his close relationship with Haskins.
“When you think about Dwayne, you think about the compassion that he had,” Day said. “Certainly for all of his teammates and his friends, but he always took time after practice to be around family members, kids. He was like a big brother."
Day added that Haskins personally meant a lot to his family because of the player's close relationship with his son R. J.
"He meant a lot to this program. He is going to be missed," Day said. "We are all hurting… It makes you hug your loved ones a little bit more and you just understand how fragile life is.”
Coach Day's opening remarks at today's press conference remembering Dwayne Haskins. pic.twitter.com/IsOhHkzT4m
— Ohio State Buckeyes ๐ฐ (@OhioStAthletics) April 11, 2022
