The sports world stopped on the morning of April 9, 2022. It was one of those moments where the news cycle just feels wrong, like a glitch in the timeline. Dwayne Haskins, a young quarterback with a cannon for an arm and a Rose Bowl MVP trophy on his shelf, was gone. He was only 24. At first, the reports were vague. A car accident on a South Florida highway. But as the hours turned into days, the question of how did Dwayne Haskins die became much more complex than a simple traffic mishap. It turned into a story of mechanical failure, questionable legal findings, and a family’s desperate search for the truth.
Haskins was in Florida for a reason. He wasn't just vacationing; he was putting in work. He had been invited to Boca Raton by teammate Mitch Trubisky to train with other Pittsburgh Steelers players. They were building chemistry, trying to get the vibe right before the grueling NFL season started. By all accounts, the weekend was going well. Then came the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Timeline of a Tragedy on I-595
The technical answer to how did Dwayne Haskins die is that he was struck by a dump truck while attempting to cross the westbound lanes of Interstate 595 near Fort Lauderdale. But why was an NFL quarterback walking on a high-speed interstate at 6:30 AM?
He ran out of gas.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol and 911 dispatch records, Haskins called his wife, Kalabrya Haskins, to tell her he was stranded. He was walking to find a gas station. Kalabrya, who was back in Pittsburgh, became terrified when he stopped answering his phone. She called 911 herself, a recording that is still heartbreaking to listen to today. She told dispatchers that he’d run out of gas and was heading toward a station. While she was on the phone, the unthinkable had already occurred.
Haskins was attempting to cross the highway. A dump truck, driven by a 63-year-old man, struck him. A second vehicle may have also made contact with him afterward. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The impact was massive. It wasn’t a "fender bender" gone wrong; it was a high-velocity collision on a road where cars regularly do 70+ mph.
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The Toxicology Report and the Public Backlash
About a month after the incident, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office released the autopsy and toxicology report. This is where the conversation around how did Dwayne Haskins die took a darker, more controversial turn. The report indicated that Haskins’ blood-alcohol level was significantly above the legal limit. Two separate samples showed levels of .20 and .24. For context, the legal limit for driving in Florida is .08.
The report also mentioned the presence of ketamine and norketamine in his system. These are drugs that can be used as medical anesthetics but are also used recreationally.
Public reaction was swift and, frankly, often cruel. People wanted to simplify the tragedy into a "cautionary tale" about partying. But those close to him saw a different side. They saw a young man who had made a mistake but didn't deserve to have his entire legacy reduced to a toxicology screen. The "why" behind the alcohol and the drugs remained a point of massive contention between the state and the Haskins family lawyers.
The Lawsuit: Was There More to the Story?
If you talk to Rick Pierece, the attorney representing the Haskins estate, the official police report doesn't tell the whole story of how did Dwayne Haskins die. In 2023, a lawsuit was filed alleging a much more sinister set of circumstances.
The lawsuit claimed that Haskins was targeted.
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According to the legal filing, Haskins was allegedly drugged as part of a robbery conspiracy. The suit claimed he was "targeted and drugged as part of a blackmail and robbery conspiracy" by a group of individuals at a high-end furniture store and a nightclub. The family pointed to a missing expensive watch as evidence. While this sounds like something out of a movie, the lawsuit aimed to shift the blame from a simple "drunk walking on the road" narrative to one where Haskins was a victim of foul play before he ever reached his car.
The lawsuit also took aim at several other entities:
- The driver of the dump truck (alleged speeding and hauling an oversized load).
- The Florida Department of Transportation (for poor lighting on that stretch of I-595).
- The rental car company (for providing a car with mechanical issues/low fuel).
Ultimately, in early 2024, many of these claims were settled out of court. The terms remained confidential. Settling doesn't necessarily mean a confession of guilt by the defendants, but it does suggest that the "simple" narrative of the accident had enough holes that the involved parties preferred to end the litigation rather than head to a public trial.
Misconceptions About the Night
A lot of people think Dwayne was alone the whole night. He wasn't. He had been out with a cousin and some friends. There were reports of him being at a club called "E11EVEN" in Miami and another spot called "The Wharf."
Another common misconception is that he was "wandering" aimlessly. The 911 calls prove he had a specific intent: get gas, get back to the car, get home. He knew where he was, even if his judgment was impaired by substances. The tragedy lies in that gap between "I can make it across this road" and the reality of a 20-ton truck moving at highway speeds in the pre-dawn darkness.
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The dump truck driver was never charged with a crime. Investigators determined he couldn't have seen Haskins in time to stop. This is a brutal reality of highway physics. At 60 mph, you’re covering 88 feet per second. In the dark, a pedestrian in dark clothing is virtually invisible until it's too late.
The Impact on the NFL and His Legacy
The Steelers and the Washington Commanders (where he started his career) were devastated. Mike Tomlin, usually a stoic figure, was visibly shaken by the loss. Dwayne wasn't just a player; he was a guy who was trying to rebuild his career after a rough start in D.C. He was "Ohio State Dwayne"—the kid who threw 50 touchdowns in a single season.
When we look back at how did Dwayne Haskins die, we shouldn't just look at the police report. We have to look at the human being. He was a son, a husband, and a teammate. The NFL honored him with helmet decals and moments of silence, but the real impact was felt in the locker rooms. It served as a grim reminder of how quickly everything can vanish.
The legal battles might be over, and the headlines have faded, but for those who follow the sport, the stretch of I-595 near the I-95 interchange will always be a somber place.
Actionable Insights for Road Safety and Legal Awareness
When a high-profile tragedy like this occurs, it highlights specific dangers that most of us overlook until it's too late. To prevent similar incidents and understand the legal landscape of such accidents, consider these points:
- Never Walk on an Interstate: It sounds obvious, but in a moment of panic (like running out of gas), the brain looks for the shortest path. Modern highways are not designed for pedestrians. If you are stranded, stay in your vehicle with your hazard lights on and call *FHP (*347) in Florida or your local highway patrol.
- The "Gas Can" Risk: Walking to a gas station along a highway is statistically one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Use roadside assistance apps or services like AAA which are designed to deliver fuel to you in a protected vehicle.
- Understanding Toxicology in Personal Injury: In cases like the Haskins lawsuit, "comparative negligence" is a huge factor. Even if a driver is partially at fault, if the pedestrian has substances in their system, it can legally reduce the liability of the other parties. This is why the toxicology report was so central to the legal battle.
- Vehicle Maintenance: The lawsuit's claim against the rental company serves as a reminder to always check the fuel levels and mechanical "feel" of a rental before leaving the lot, especially in unfamiliar cities.
Dwayne Haskins' death was a confluence of unfortunate events—a car running out of gas, a dangerous highway crossing, and a series of personal choices that ended in the worst possible way. He remains a figure of "what could have been," both on the field and off.