Syracuse Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim Hits, Kills Pedestrian: Cop

SYRACUSE, NY — Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim hit and killed a pedestrian who was standing on Interstate 690 Wednesday night. Boeheim hit the man while trying to avoid crashing into his disabled vehicle, The Associated Press reported.

Jorge Jimenez, 51, was in a car with three other people in Syracuse when the driver lost control of the car and crashed into a guard rail, police told media outlets. The four occupants got out of the car and started walking on the highway near the vehicle.

Around 11:20 p.m., an oncoming vehicle swerved to avoid hitting the disabled car, which sat in the middle of the road. The driver, identified as Boeheim, 74, of Fayetteville, ended up crashing into Jimenez, who was standing on the side of the road, police said. Jimenez was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.

Both drivers stayed at the scene. Neither showed any signs of intoxication.

Boeheim said in a statement through the university basketball team's Twitter account he was "heartbroken" that a member of the community died as a result of the crash, which he called an accident.

"Juli and I extend our deepest sympathies to the Jimenez family," said Boeheim. "Out of respect for those involved, I will not be providing further comment at this time."

No tickets have been issued. An investigation remains ongoing and Boeheim is cooperating.

"He stopped immediately and exited the vehicle," Syracuse police Sgt. Matthew Malinowski told AP.

Freezing rain had fallen earlier in the night, though it wasn't immediately clear if that contributed to the crash.

Boeheim has coached at Syracuse University for more than four decades. He won a national championship in 2003 and has made five Final Four appearances.

The team was coming off a 69-49 home win over Louisville leading up to the crash.