This week, three prominent members of the football community died in vehicle accidents.
Earlier last month, an explosive vehicle accident killed two high school football coaches in New Jersey, one of whom had played in college. A national championship-winning running back has perished in a terrible vehicle accident in Florida.
Car accidents kill around 50,000 people in the United States each year. That means that more than 100 individuals die in car accidents in this country each day. It’s a really sad and worrisome number.
The vehicle accident that killed two high school football coaches in New Jersey was particularly heartbreaking. The automobile reportedly went off the roadway near Newark, New Jersey, and exploded.
Last weekend, Hudson Catholic head football coach Lamar McKnight, 32, and assistant coach Brad Cunningham, 41, were among the six persons killed in the incident.
The automobile was going south on Raymond Boulevard, near Newark. It went off the road and struck with a support column on the Pulaski Skyway. It eventually caught fire and detonated. McKnight has grown Hudson Catholic into a premier program, whereas Cunningham attended Rutgers.
“We are saddened to learn of the accident involving Brad Cunningham, Coach McKnight, and four others yesterday night. Brad Cunningham, a member of our inaugural recruiting class, laid the groundwork for the Rutgers football program. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano wrote: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Brad’s family and the entire Hudson Catholic football family.”
Unfortunately, the football world lost former Georgia Bulldogs walk-on running back Gleaton Jones in a terrible vehicle accident in Florida.
Jones, a member of Georgia’s 2021 national championship squad, died at the age of twenty-one.
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“Gleaton lived life to the fullest and emoted joy and enthusiasm in every endeavor,” Jones’ obituary website states. “At such a young age, he built a fulfilling life for himself and others by investing heavily in his family, friends, fraternity, and service to others through his growing faith. His closest friends dubbed him ‘Gleat,’ and they described him as simply cheerful and captivating.
“There was no room that his dazzling light couldn’t fill. By all accounts, he was well-liked, popular, and charming, but he was also humble, compassionate, empathic, and personal, making his friends feel valued and significant. His lightheartedness and cheerful demeanor could elevate others’ spirits, and his listening skills frequently provided peace of mind and encouragement.”
Reference: 3 Prominent Football Figures Killed In Explosive Car Accidents