Man Hit By NFL Player Wasn't In Crosswalk

(AP)  A pedestrian wasn't in a crosswalk when Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth hit and killed him with his Bentley, according to a report released Tuesday by police in Miami Beach.

According to the report, Stallworth told officers he flashed his lights to try to warn 59-year-old Mario Reyes, a construction crane operator who was rushing to catch a bus after getting off work around 7:15 a.m. March 14.

Police said Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone. They are investigating whether alcohol played a role in the accident. No charges have been filed against Stallworth pending the outcome of blood tests.

A police diagram shows that Reyes was hit in the far left lane of the six-lane MacArthur Causeway - not in a nearby crosswalk. Stallworth stopped a few feet away.

Police also released calls from three people who dialed 911 that morning.

The first, a woman, said, "There's a man laying in the middle of the road." The dispatcher asked for her location and a description of the victim.

Then the woman blurted: "He's dead. He's dead ... He was just laying in the middle of the road. I think he's dead."

None of the callers apparently witnessed the accident. One man, saying he was on his way to work, said he "heard a hit" and then saw Reyes lying in the roadway. A few moments later, a police officer arrived.

Stallworth's attorney declined comment Tuesday but has said his client is cooperating with police. Stallworth last week released a statement saying he was "grief stricken" over the accident.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured most of the year. He was scheduled to receive a $4.75 million signing bonus the day before the accident. Before that, he played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans in the NFL and in college for Tennessee.

Stallworth's best overall season was in 2005, when he caught 70 passes for 945 yards and seven touchdowns as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

[Kuei1248]

"Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way. "

They do now in Chicago due to some of the recent "Laws of Stupidity". Should a dumb@$$ step out off the side walk, in or out of the crosswalk, it is the driver's fault for not yeilding. I guess it is better to have 10 drivers rear end you when you slam on the brakes rather than give up the life of one more useless moron.

[cepe10-2009]

PEDESTRIANS' RIGHTS AND RULES

In general.- If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at any point other than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching on the roadway.

Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way.

[Kuei1248]

The play was no good because the receiver was out of bounds! LOL

[iDragon13]

Maybe I'm confused but I'm reacting to an earlier post by cepe10....don't pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way?

[I_am_me1953]

And the fact that the pedestrian was not in the crosswalk makes it the pedestrian's fault or frees Stallworth of any responsibility even though he had time enough to blink his lights to warn the person he ran over but somehow not time enough to hit the brakes or steer the car away from him? That one ain't gonna fly.

Posted by skeezix06 at 2:49 AM : Mar 25, 2009
____________________

Agree. It would seem that if you have enough time to flash your lights at a pedestrian you would have enough time to hit the brakes or attempt to drive around the ped.

Maybe he is so use to running over players after a catch that he acted naturally to the ped?

[anywonder72]

WOW...whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? No one saw the accident only heard it, so he COULD have driven off, but he stopped and is cooperating with police. You people need to get a life!

[cepe10]

I guess some people need to learn the hard way an automobile is bigger than you.

An especially when the auto has the right of way like in this situation.

He should be let off on this one.

50 MPH on that roadway is just the normal flow of traffic.

The jay walker was at fault and his estate should pay for damages. I wonder if he was drunk?

I have been a jogger and runner for a long time - you always give the cars the roadway. ALWAYS!

[jtdev1]

They'll find out the truth if they analyze the car's black box.

but he has money and I'll bet they wipe out the black box before the police even think about reading it's contents.

[craigh41]

50 in a 40 and probably drunk when he hit this guy. You or I would have been in jail immediately and would have bail set so high we probably couldn't make it - but an NFL football player gets to walk around scott free and utilize his PR people to start focusing the blame unto the victim - RIDICULOUS!

[skeezix06]

And the fact that the pedestrian was not in the crosswalk makes it the pedestrian's fault or frees Stallworth of any responsibility even though he had time enough to blink his lights to warn the person he ran over but somehow not time enough to hit the brakes or steer the car away from him? That one ain't gonna fly.