Update: The widow of NFL player Dwayne Haskins claims she was worried for his safety after he stopped responding to her messages while wandering a Florida highway in search of gas.
Kalabrya Haskins reportedly notified 911 from Pennsylvania around ten minutes after Haskins quit responding.
Haskins, who was in Broward County at the time of his death, is alleged to have run out of gas and was on foot in an attempt to secure some fuel.
“He said he was going to call me back after he finished putting the gas in,” she told dispatchers. “I kept calling and kept calling. He wasn’t answering. Eventually, after 10 minutes of calling the phone, eventually it cut off. It’s not working now. I had his location. I just want somebody to go in the area and see if his car is there and if he’s OK and if anything happened to him.”
Mrs. Haskins was then informed that there had been a pedestrian struck on I-95.
“I don’t want you to panic, but I’m going to be honest with you,” the dispatcher said. “We do have an incident on the highway…But I can’t confirm if that’s your husband or not.”
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Nathan Baird, cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Dwayne Haskins’ widow said her late husband had “the smile of a rainbow that touched the diversity of so many” in her first public statement since the former Ohio State quarterback’s death last weekend.
Kalabrya Haskins released the statement through the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dwayne Haskins had been in south Florida working out with other players from the franchise when he was struck by a dump truck while attempting to cross I-595. Haskins, 24, died at the scene.
In her statement, Kalabrya Haskins expressed her thanks for the support the family has received since the incident. She asked for prayers and continued privacy as they continued to mourn.
She also specifically mentioned Ohio State as part of the quarterback’s enduring legacy. Haskins set 28 OSU and seven Big Ten records in his Heisman Trophy finalist 2018 season. Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil Tuesday night under the Ohio Stadium rotunda.
“He will forever rest and remain in our hearts til the end of time,” Kalabrya Haskins wrote. “His eternal love will always reside with us, Ohio State, Washington Commanders and Steelers Nation for eternity! LOVE OF MY LIFE, FOREVER…REST IN THE BEAUTIFUL PEACE OF HEAVEN!”
It is not yet known why Haskins attempted to cross the highway near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport early Saturday morning. A possible eyewitness told a Miami TV station that he called 911 to report a man he now believes to be Haskins was in danger of being hit by traffic on the highway. That call went out six minutes before the Florida Highway Patrol said Haskins was first reported to have been struck.
An FHP spokesperson told UPI Tuesday that no further information would be released until the conclusion of the investigation, which typically takes around 90 days. A Broward County medical examiner’s office spokesperson told UPI the office’s separate investigation into Haskins’ cause of death is still awaiting toxicology reports.
Below is the full statement from Kalabrya Haskins as posted through the account of a Steelers public relations employee:
STATEMENT FROM KALABRYA HASKINS
“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to every loving soul who has supported our family during this arduous time of loss. The overwhelming thoughts and prayers have been fuel for our emotional depletion. All of your blessings have been greatly valued and appreciated. The meaningful touches and impact Dwayne made as a husband, son, brother, teammate and friend is a timeless treasure imbrued in our hearts. I am truly grateful to everyone who has been by our side as we mourn his untimely passing. Our family implores for your continued prayers, yet continued respectful privacy as we painfully grieve.
“My husband was more than a great football player. He had the smile of a rainbow that touched the diversity of so many. He will forever rest and remain in our hearts til the end of time. His eternal love will always reside with us, Ohio State, Washington Commanders and Steelers Nation for eternity! LOVE OF MY LIFE, FOREVER…REST IN THE BEAUTIFUL PEACE OF HEAVEN!
“We will be holding a celebration of Dwayne’s life on Friday, April 22, at the Allegheny Center Alliance Church in Pittsburgh, Pa. We invite family, friends, teammates, coaches, and those who want to pay their respects to Dwayne to a visitation from 10-11 a.m., which will be followed by a celebration of life service from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.”
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