According to ESPN, Syracuse.com, and other multiple reports, Syracuse Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jim Boeheim was behind the wheel of a car Wednesday night that struck and killed 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez of Syracuse.
The Onondaga County (N.Y.) District Attorney, Bill Fitzpatrick, said Thursday morning that Jimenez was outside of his vehicle on Interstate 690 after being involved in another unrelated motor vehicle accident due to inclement weather.
Boeheim’s car struck the Jimenez around midnight.
The DA says that Boeheim, who had coached earlier in the night versus Louisville, is cooperating, and that there was no alcohol or drugs involved and that Boeheim was driving the speed limit.
Fitzpatrick told ESPN,
“It’s just a terrible, unfortunate accident. We don’t yet know [exactly] what caused the initial accident. Coach Boeheim was not involved in that accident. The occupants of the vehicle, including the deceased, were wandering in the road.”
Boeheim will not be charged as a result of the accident.
Boeheim is said to be “Devastated” according to Boeheim’s friend Adam Weitsman, who spoke to him Thursday.
Syracuse Athletic Director John Wildhack in a statement issued by the University said in part,
“We are saddened by the death of a member of our Central New York community, and,
“Coach Boeheim is in contact with local authorities and cooperating fully. Out of respect for those grieving, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Flip the pages to see the full statements from Boeheim, the University and Twitter’s reaction.