Boeheim behind the wheel in tragic accident
‘Devastated’ Syracuse coach fatally hits man
Legendary Syracuse University men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim struck and killed a man with his car along an upstate highway, cops said Thursday.
The hoops Hall of Famer, 74, was driving along Interstate 690 around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday when he spotted a broken-down Dodge Charger resting against a guardrail and jutting into the roadway, Syracuse police said.
Boeheim swerved to avoid the disabled car — but instead hit one of its passengers, Jorge Jimenez, 51, with his GMC Acadia as he was making his way to the interstate’s median, officials said.
The 2003 national championship winner hopped out of his own car and tried to save the man, but his injuries were too severe, authorities said.
“Mr. Boeheim did exactly what we would expect him to do,” said Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner on Thursday. “He stopped. He attempted aid.”
Jimenez was pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital.
Boeheim even pulled out his cellphone and used its light to warn oncoming motorists so the crash wouldn’t become a pileup, Buckner said. “Everything we asked him to do, he’s done,” Buckner said, adding that no criminal charges are expected.
The department’s probe is ongoing, but it’s believed the Dodge hit a patch of ice and slammed into a guardrail shortly before Boeheim came driving through.
Authorities said a field-sobriety test showed Boeheim was not under the influence of alcohol.
“I am heartbroken that a member of our community died as the result of last night’s accident,” Boeheim said in a statement. “Out of respect for those involved, I will not be providing further comment at this time.”
Those close to Boeheim — who has the second-most coaching wins in the history of men’s college hoops — confirmed that the coach was shaken up.
“He’s devastated,” businessman and Syracuse Orange fan Adam Weitsman told CBS affiliate WTVH. “He says the man was in the middle of the road, not along the side or anything like that.”
The crash occurred just hours after unranked Syracuse upset the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals, 69-49, at the Carrier Dome.
“We are saddened by the death of a member of our Central New York community,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a statement.
Boeheim, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, has served as head coach of Syracuse since 1976, leading the Orange to national-titlegame appearances in 1987, 1996 and 2003.
After losing in his first two attempts, Boeheim took the national crown in 2003 with a squad anchored by future Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.