Steelers quarterback was killed early on April 9th when he was hit by a dump truck while trying to cross Interstate 595. The unexpected passing of the Haskin has shocked and devastated his comrades. “I am speechless and heartbroken about Dwayne Haskins’ tragic passing…The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, bemoaned, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this terrible time. Haskins, a gifted athlete and past Heisman nominee, was only 24 years old.
The young quarterback was struck and killed by a truck while attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Broward County’s I-595 near the Ft. Lauderdale airport, according to a Florida Highway Patrol official. Audio taken from Haskins’ spouse’s 911 call reveals that he was on his way back to his car when the incident happened because he had ran out of gas. A woman reported seeing a man and a dump truck get into a tragic accident in a different 911 call.
The Steelers quarterback was pronounced dead at the scene, and the opening of a traffic homicide inquiry was verified by law officials. The dump truck driver stayed at the scene of the collision and is assisting the investigation.
The percentage of pedestrians killed by car crashes has risen by a startling 45 percent in the last ten years. A recent report by Smart Growth America found that Florida is one of the states with the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford region has the greatest incidence of pedestrian fatalities, although the Miami and Fort Lauderdale metro areas are not far behind. In South Florida, there were about 1,675 pedestrian deaths between 2010 and 2019. That comes to over 3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
These statistics on pedestrian accidents highlight the need for more crosswalks, safer road designs, and more driver awareness of cyclists and pedestrians.
With a “Pedestrian Danger Index” of 201.4, researchers at Smart Growth America rated the Sunshine State highly. This index calculates the proportion of pedestrian fatalities to the state’s population as well as the daily walk-to-work rate.
