Jim Boeheim “was not reckless” and won’t face charges for his role in a fatal car accident last month when he struck and killed 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez, whose car was disabled and blocking two lanes in the middle of a highway in Syracuse, according to a police accident report released Thursday, which closes the case.
Boeheim had been driving home from dinner after Syracuse’s 69-49 win over Louisville on Feb. 20, and although the report cleared Boeheim of wrongdoing, it was noted he was going 66 mph in a 55-mph zone.
Boeheim told police the disabled car didn’t have its lights on, and he drove to the left of the vehicle to avoid hitting it.
“As I get to the front of the vehicle, I observed what I believe is a person along the guardrail; there might have been more than one person,” Boeheim is quoted in the report. “Then a split second later, I hear a loud bang, and I start coming to a stop.”
Boeheim immediately called 911 to report the accident. Jimenez was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“A secondary contributing factor is pedestrian error/confusion, as the pedestrians remained on the dark highway dressed in dark clothing for a prolonged period of time after being aware of on-coming vehicles nearly colliding with the Dodge Charger,” the report read.
“After a careful review of the facts and circumstances of this case, including the thorough and meticulous accident reconstruction performed by experienced members of the Syracuse Police Department’s Traffic Division, I concur with their findings that this was a tragic accident. No charges will be filed against anyone involved,” Fitzpatrick wrote.
The report ruled out alcohol and drugs as a factor in the accident.
