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Dwayne Haskins’ parents spoke Tuesday about the death of their son, who was killed over the weekend after being hit by a dump truck on a Florida freeway.
Tamara and Dwayne Haskins, Sr. announced that multiple services will be held in New Jersey and Maryland this month to celebrate their son’s life with family, coaches, teammates and childhood friends. They described the pain of their loss as “unimaginable”.
“Since the news of our loss broke, we have felt such overwhelming love for our son,” his parents told WUSA9 from Washington DC at a young age. He has been touched by so many people on his journey to becoming an outstanding athlete and we are grateful to all of them.”
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Dwayne Haskins #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 12, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
“This pain is unimaginable and we appreciate everyone who shares our heartbreak,” they added.
Haskins was attempting to cross lanes of westbound Interstate 595 on foot when he was struck by a dump truck early Saturday morning around 6:37 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This is an open traffic murder investigation,” said Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Indiana Miranda, to Fox News. “No further information will be released until the investigation is complete.”
Haskins’ funeral service will be held on April 23 at Christ Church in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, the state where he was born and grew up through high school.
A second service is scheduled for the next day at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, where Haskins attended high school. Bullis retired his No. 7 jersey on Monday.
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Haskins originally committed to playing college football at the University of Maryland before finally making the decision to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State Buckeyes #7 Dwayne Haskins celebrates after a 12 yard touchdown in the first half of the Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Sean M Haffey/Getty Images)
After completing his freshman year at Ohio State as a redshirt, Haskins served as backup quarterback, throwing for 565 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He was named a starter the following season and had an amazing season, rushing for 4,831 yards, 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Haskins was the second runner-up for the Heisman Trophy that year and led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl win. In 2019 he was drafted by Washington 15th overall.
Washington Football Team’s Dwayne Haskins #7 aims to pass the ball during an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team at FedExField December 27, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
After his time with Washington, the Steelers offered Haskins a second chance when they signed him to a one-year contract in 2021. He served as a third-string quarterback behind Mason Rudolph.
Haskins, who signed a year-long restricted free agent tender this offseason, was set to fight for the starting job at Pittsburgh following the retirement of veteran Ben Roethlisberger.
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It wasn’t immediately known why Haskins was on the freeway at the time. He appeared to be in South Florida later in the week to practice with Steelers teammate Mitchell Trubisky, running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Haskins would have been 25 on May 3rd.