Dwayne Haskins, 24, the backup Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and a former standout at Ohio State, was closely intoxicated when he was struck and killed by a truck on a Florida freeway in April, in line with a toxicology report launched by the medical expert’s workplace in Broward County, Fla., on Monday.
In two samples, Haskins had a blood-alcohol focus of .20 p.c and .24 p.c on the time of his post-mortem, in line with the report, greater than double Florida’s authorized restrict of .08 p.c. Ketamine, a sedative that can be taken as a leisure hallucinogenic, was additionally present in Haskins’s system, in line with the report.
By an lawyer, Haskins’s spouse, Kalabrya, in a press release Monday, requested for endurance and privateness.
“On behalf of Dwayne’s spouse, his household, and his reminiscence, and on behalf of the reality, we respectfully request and pray for privateness, for endurance, and for the general public to withhold any judgment throughout this era whereas the legislation enforcement authorities proceed to analyze and conduct their vital work,” the assertion stated.
Haskins’s agent, Cedric Saunders, declined to remark.
Alongside findings from the police investigation, additionally launched Monday, the stories present readability to what led to the collision, which occurred round 6:37 a.m. on April 9 as Haskins tried to cross a busy stretch of Interstate 595 in Fort Lauderdale on foot.
Haskins had been consuming “closely” at a membership the night time earlier than his loss of life, in line with report, and a Steelers official advised the medical expert’s workplace that Haskins had gone to dinner that night time and later to a nightclub with a pal or cousin. The 2 later separated after getting right into a battle, in line with the report. Haskins had been in South Florida coaching with teammates all through the week.
Kalabrya Haskins advised a 911 dispatcher on calls launched in April that his automotive had run out of gas and he had left the car trying to find fuel. The report stated Haskins died of blunt pressure trauma when he was hit by a dump truck after trying to wave down automobiles on the shoulder of the freeway. A second car additionally made partial contact after it tried to swerve round him, the report stated. Authorities dominated it an unintentional killing and didn’t anticipate legal fees, in line with the report.
A girl who had been touring with Haskins was discovered by authorities contained in the automotive after his loss of life. It’s unclear how she and Haskins knew one another, in line with the report.
The Washington Commanders chosen Haskins fifteenth total within the 2019 N.F.L. draft, after he threw for 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns in his solely yr as a starter at Ohio State. In 2018, he completed third in Heisman Trophy voting, behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, after main Ohio State to a 13-1 file, together with a win within the Rose Bowl towards Washington. He accomplished 70 p.c of his passes and, at 6-foot-3, was projected to have an N.F.L. future for his accuracy as a pocket passer.
However Haskins struggled in his first two N.F.L. seasons, profitable three of his 13 begins in Washington whereas throwing 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and was benched in favor of Alex Smith. The Commanders launched him earlier than the top of the 2020 season due to his efficiency, and for a number of violations of Covid-19 protocols.
The Steelers signed Haskins in January 2021 as a backup, however he didn’t play within the common season. In March, the Steelers re-signed him as a restricted free agent, and Haskins was anticipated to compete for the beginning job with Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky in coaching camp.
