Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim calls out to his team in the first half against the Louisville Cardinals at the Carrier Dome, February 20, 2019. Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim says he is "heartbroken" after striking and killing a man standing along an interstate late Wednesday night. Syracuse police say Boeheim struck 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez as he stood on the side of I-690. Police say Boeheim was trying to avoid hitting Jimenez's disabled vehicle that was in the middle of the interstate after it lost control and hit a guardrail. Authorities say there is no sign the 74-year-old Basketball Hall of Fame coach was impaired and no tickets have been issue to him at this time. Boeheim says in a prepared statement that he and wife Juli extend their deepest sympathies to the Jimenez family. He says he will not be commenting further out of respect for those involved in the accident. Boeheim has coached at Syracuse University for 43 years, winning a national title in 2003. Police say longtime Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim (BAY-heim) struck and killed a 51-year-old man walking outside his vehicle on a highway. Syracuse police say the man had been in a car with three others before midnight Wednesday after their vehicle crashed. Police say the 74-year-old Boeheim drove by and struck the pedestrian while trying to avoid the vehicle on Interstate 690 in Syracuse. The hall of fame basketball coach is cooperating with the investigation. Police say there was no sign that Boeheim was impaired. No tickets have been issued to Boeheim at this time. Boeheim has coached at Syracuse University for 43 years, winning a national title in 2003 and making five Final Four appearances. His team defeated Louisville 69-49 Wednesday night during a home game.<doc-sep>SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim hit and killed a man on Interstate 690 late Wednesday night. The crash happened around 11:20 p.m. near Thompson Road in Syracuse. When officers arrived they found the victim, 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez of Syracuse, and he was transported to Upstate University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Jimenez and his family are originally from Cuba, which the public learned in a press conference with Syracuse officials Thursday. evening. Investigators say a vehicle on I-690 was involved in a guard rail crash, and the occupants exited the vehicle on the highway. They say Boeheim hit Jimenez with his vehicle as he was trying to avoid hitting the car, which was left in the driving lane. The victim was standing near his car on the side of the roadway. The longtime Orange basketball coach released a statement Thursday afternoon extending his sympathies to the family, saying: "I am heartbroken that a member of our community died as the result of last night’s accident. Juli and I extend our deepest sympathies to the Jimenez family. Out of respect for those involved, I will not be providing further comment at this time." Both drivers stayed at the scene, and are cooperating with the police investigation. Field sobriety tests were given to both drivers and came back with negative results for any signs of impairment. No tickets have been issued at this time, but the highway was shut down for several hours while crews investigated the crash. Wednesday night, the Orange played a home game against Louisville that ended around 9 p.m. Syracuse University Athletic Director John Wildhack released a statement saying: "We are saddened by the death of a member of our Central New York community. On behalf of Chancellor Kent Syverud and the entire Syracuse University community, we extend our deepest condolences to all impacted by this tragic accident. Coach Boeheim is in contact with local authorities and cooperating fully. Out of respect for those grieving, there will be no further comment at this time."<doc-sep>SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In this tight-knit community, where the winters are long and daylight hours short, basketball games double as defining events. They are the communal gatherings, celebrations and indelible beacons of the region’s identity. The big games loom on the calendar with the same anticipation as birthdays and anniversaries, reunions for friends and family and commemorated by an array of commemorative T-shirts. In many ways, a high-profile game like No. 1 Duke visiting Syracuse allows the city and university to celebrate itself. By tipoff on Saturday, the game itself was secondary, shrouded by emotion, awkwardness and some levels of discomfort. On Wednesday night, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim was driving home after Syracuse’s game against Louisville and struck and killed a pedestrian on a local highway. Law enforcement officials stressed that Boeheim did nothing wrong, terming the collision as a tragic accident and praising Boeheim’s actions – calling 911 and using his cellphone flashlight to wave down cars – in the aftermath. The university decided on Friday to allow Boeheim to coach, and what proceeded was an emotional day where the drama and tragedy of the week overshadowed the game on the floor. ESPN wisely canceled its “College GameDay” program. Prior to the game, the university had a tribute to the accident victim, 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez, that was read in both English and Spanish. That was followed by a moment of silence. It set the tone for a somber day amid celebratory trappings that began with a supportive ovation for Boeheim when he walked on the court and ended with a pair of emotional press conferences by Boeheim and his close friend, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. No. 1 Duke won, 75-65, but the game proved secondary to the emotions of the tragedy shrouding it. Three days after accidentally hitting and killing a pedestrian, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim returned to the bench to loud applause prior to the Orange’s game against top-ranked Duke. (AP) Boeheim started his press conference by reading from a prepared statement that stressed he and his family’s sympathies for the Jimenez family: “The grief and pain his family is feeling at this time is, simply put, unimaginable.” Story continues He later veered off script and gave a glimpse into the emotion of his past 72 hours, his voice catching multiple times as he attempted to convey his feelings. “I don’t think I can make anybody understand who hasn’t been there,” Boeheim said. “This is something that’s there forever for me. I’ve always felt in life, you get a lot of things you have to overcome. I started here with nothing and been here a long time, and there’s a lot of things you have to overcome. There’s nothing like this when a human life is lost and you are there. I can’t describe it to you.” Boeheim attempted to balance his sympathy for the Jimenez family with giving insight into the pain that’s accompanied his role in the accident. “This is never going away, like I said,” he said. “Tuesday it’s not going to be better. It’s not going to be any better next week. It’s not going to be any better next month. It’s not going to be any better next year. We’ve reached out to the family, and I intend to try and do that as I can in the future. This is isn’t about me, it doesn’t matter how I feel. It’s about how they feel and what’s happened to them. There’s just nothing I can say about it.” A debate rose whether Boeheim should coach in the game. He said he did because of his “responsibility and obligation” to his players, and the university formally announced he’d be coaching on Friday afternoon. (Boeheim missed practice on Thursday.) To those around Boeheim, there really wasn’t much of a chance he’d decide to skip the game. For 43 years, he’s coached through everything from cancer and scandal. It’s as much who he is as his occupation. That notion was summed up tersely but accurately by Krzyzewski, who said: “I’m glad he coached. What the hell else is he supposed to do? That’s what he does.” That meant the most anticipated moment of the Saturday would be Boeheim’s walk onto the court. At 5:58 p.m. ET, Boeheim entered the Carrier Dome with his head bowed down. The largest on-campus crowd to ever witness a college basketball game (35,642) rose to their feet and delivered a rousing ovation, which Boeheim acknowledged by quickly raising his right hand. Boeheim crossed the court named after him to the opposite end, where Krzyzewski was clapping with the orange-clad masses. The two embraced in a long hug – “He’s not a hugger,” Coach K observed afterward – and exchanged a few words. “It was such a sincere showing of emotion,” Krzyzewski said. “It was really beautiful. I commend the Syracuse community and fans.” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, right, embraces Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim at the end of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Duke won 75-65. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi) With that, Boehiem walked back to the Syracuse bench, peeked to the far corners of the Carrier Dome and stood in his familiar position. “I’ve been here all my life,” Boeheim said. “[The fans have] always been supportive. I think they know how bad I feel, what I feel. I just thought they were there to support our team and me. It’s an unimaginable situation. I can’t, I just can’t describe the feeling I have and have had since Wednesday night.” The game unfolded with little drama. Duke figured out a way to win without Zion Williamson, as RJ Barrett scored 30 points and Alex O’Connell added a career-high 20. Rob Gronkowski cheered behind the Syracuse bench, but the Orange had little chance with star guard Tyus Battle shooting only 4-for-17. After the game ended, Boeheim finished his remarks and headed off to his new normal. “I did this feeling fully the weight of the tragic accident and its impact on the Jimenez family,” Boeheim said. “This is something that will be with me for the rest of my life.”<doc-sep>Syracuse, NY. -- Syracuse women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman opened his news conference after a win over Pitt on Thursday night with words of support for Jim Boeheim and the man he killed in a car accident. Boeheim was driving on I-690 East in Syracuse on Wednesday night when he struck and killed Jorge Jimenez, who was standing outside of a car that had hit a guardrail. Syracuse Police Department Chief Kenton Buckner said after an investigation the event was a tragedy and an accident. Hillsman said he had not yet spoken to Boeheim personally. "Obviously, before I get started, I’ll just start out by saying it’s a sad day today,'' Hillsman said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all families that’s involved in the situation. We understand the magnitude of today and our prayers are with the family and with Coach Boeheim. It really takes a toll on you, today, our community, to have a really tragic day. And we just want to start off by acknowledging that.''<doc-sep>
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud and athletic director John Wildhack issued statements Thursday regarding the fatal car accident that SU basketball coach Jim Boeheim was involved in late Wednesday night. Boeheim was driving on I-690 East in Syracuse when he struck and killed a man who was standing outside of a car that had struck a guardrail. "We are saddened by the death of a member of our Central New York community,'' Wildhack said. "On behalf of Chancellor Kent Syverud and the entire Syracuse University community, we extend our deepest condolences to all impacted by this tragic accident. Coach Boeheim is in contact with local authorities and cooperating fully. Out of respect for those grieving, there will be no further comment at this time.'' In his statement, Syverud said, "Like all of you, I am deeply saddened by the news that a member of our Central New York community was tragically killed in an accident last night involving coach Jim Boeheim. Coach Boeheim is understandably heartbroken by the loss of life. On behalf of our entire Syracuse University family, Dr. Ruth Chen and I extend our deepest condolences to the Jimenez family and all those grieving this terrible loss.'' Friends and former players who have called or texted Boeheim said he was “shaken” but is OK after the accident. Jorge Jimenez, 51, of Syracuse, was transported to Upstate University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The accident occurred at 11:22 p.m. on Interstate 690 Eastbound near Thompson Road, Syracuse police said. The police investigation revealed that Jimenez was a passenger in a vehicle that lost control on the highway striking a guard rail. People in the car got out and proceeded to walk on the highway near the vehicle, police said. Boeheim, 74, of DeWitt, noticed the disabled car and tried avoiding the vehicle, which was in the road. Boeheim’s vehicle struck the man who was standing on the side of the road, police said. Follow Syracuse basketball on Twitter and Facebook.