Report: New Lawsuit to Seek Further Answers in Dwayne Haskins’ Death

According to a report by ESPN commentator Ryan Clark, a new civil lawsuit is expected to be filed this week looking further into the death of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Haskins was killed on the morning of April 9, 2022, when he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Interstate 595 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on foot.

“Per sources close to the situation, an upcoming press release pertaining to the death of Dwayne Haskins will detail a civil lawsuit into the events that led to Haskins’ death exactly 1 year ago today,” Clark wrote on Twitter on Sunday night, the anniversary of Haskins’ death.

“Many questions remain unanswered & evidence may indicate that Dwayne Haskins was somehow targeted. The civil suit will be pivotal in uncovering information that can lead to a clearer understanding of that tragic night.” 

Haskins was attempting to cross the interstate to return to his vehicle, which had run out of gas, when he was hit by a dump truck in the center lane. He was also struck by a second vehicle. The drivers of both vehicles cooperated with the police investigation.

“He had to go walk and get gas and he said he was returning to the car on the highway,” Haskins’ widow, Kalabrya Haskins said on a 911 recording. “We were on the phone. He said he was going to call me back after he finished putting the gas in. I kept calling and kept calling and he didn’t answer.”

The Broward County medical examiner’s report established Haskins’ cause of death as blunt-force trauma and ruled his death an accident. The medical examiner determined that he had alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of his death.

Haskins’ blood-alcohol level was tested at .20, well above the Florida limited for driving, which is .08. He also tested positive for ketamine and norketamine, anesthetic medications that are sometimes used recreationally.

It’s unclear how Haskins may have been targeted in the accident. The announcement of the suit could not be independently confirmed by Steelers Now. A message to a representative of Haskins’ widow was not immediately returned.

Haskins was in Florida training with Steelers teammates, including fellow quarterback Mitch Trubisky and wide receiver Chase Claypool, who said he was close to being able to help Haskins before his death.

“I feel like I failed him,” Claypool said. “I feel like I could have changed the outcome. I was close. I was a minute away from stopping it, essentially. You can’t really beat yourself up on that, but it’s tough when you know. Damn, if I could have been a minute quicker … I went back to grab him and he wasn’t there anymore. I missed him by a minute.”

The Steelers wore Haskins’ uniform number three on helmet stickers throughout the 2022 season to memorialize Haskins. Haskins was the first active Steelers player to die since rookie lineman Randy Frisch was killed in an auto accident in 1977.