Family, friends, teammates gather to remember Steelers' QB Dwayne Haskins
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Under a sunny sky, it was a somber Friday on Pittsburgh's North Side.
Family, friends and teammates of Dwayne Haskins said goodbye to the former Pittsburgh Steeler. Haskins was hit and killed by a dump truck on a Florida highway on April 9.
According to 911 calls, he was trying to get gas after his car broke down. He was attempting to cross the highway when he was hit and killed.
Former Steeler Dwayne Woodruff, now a judge in Pittsburgh, met Haskins on the Steelers cruise in March. He said he saw a young man with so much life left to live.
"It was nice to see such a young, energetic young man -- a Christian, a believer," Woodruff said. "He shared his enthusiasm with everyone he met."
When the news hit of Haskins' tragic passing, he said he couldn't believe it.
"You just pray that it wasn't true," Woodruff said.
Many current Steelers attended the celebration of Haskins' life, including team owner Art Rooney II. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and current coach Ryan Day paid their respects. Former Ohio State and Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier also was there to say goodbye.
Steelers' Coach Mike Tomlin, Haskins' wife Kalabrya, and Haskins' high school coaches delivered a few of the eulogies during the memorial.
"I heard Mike Tomlin say (Haskins) was a good guy and all that," said Steelers fan Randall Collins, who attended the celebration-of-life service. "Tears came to my eyes. His wife got to crying, I got to crying."
Before riding off, Haskins' family, loved ones, and teammates gathered around him one last time.
"You could tell that he was going to be, as well as his wife, going to be people who were going to be leaders," Woodruff said. "People to look up to, particularly in this community."
Three doves were released in honor of him wearing No. 3 with the Steelers.
Haskins will be remembered at two more memorial services this weekend. They will be Saturday in New Jersey and then Sunday in Maryland.
