Boeheim Discusses 'When a Human Life Is Lost and You're There'

Syracuse coach breaks silence after being involved in a fatal car accident
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 24, 2019 9:11 AM CST
Boeheim Discusses 'When a Human Life Is Lost and You're There'
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim speaks at a news conference after the team's NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Syracuse, NY, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Duke won 75-65.   (AP Photo/Nick Lisi)

Jim Boeheim returned to the Carrier Dome on Saturday night for the first game since he was involved in a car accident that killed a man, and addressed the tragedy head-on, reports ESPN: The beloved Syracuse coach came on to the court to a standing ovation, but had arranged a message to be read in English and Spanish over the loudspeaker in honor of Jorge Jimenez, the 51-year-old man he accidentally struck on the side of the road as he was returning from a game late Wednesday. That was followed by a moment of silence, and Boeheim released a statement afterward saying that "I love this community, and to see so many of my fellow community members rally around the Jimenez family is a reminder of how special central New York is."

He continued: "It's an unimaginable situation. I can't describe the feelings I've had since Wednesday night. I don't think I can make anyone understand who hasn't been there. This is something that's there forever for me. It's one of those things. ... There's a lot of things in there that you have to overcome, but there's nothing, there is nothing like this, when a human life is lost and you're there. I just can't, I can't describe it to you." Boeheim struck Jiminez on the side of the road Wednesday on his way home from a game; Jiminez had struck a guardrail and exited his own vehicle. Neither driver was determined to be under the influence. (More Jim Boeheim stories.)

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