Dwayne Haskins Death: Autopsy Shows Player Was Intoxicated When Killed

POTOMAC, MD — Former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins was legally drunk and had taken a painkiller before he was fatally struck by a dump truck April 9 while walking on a Florida interstate, an autopsy report released Monday said.

The Associated Press obtained the report on the Maryland resident's death from the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office.

A Florida medical examiner determined that Haskins’ blood alcohol content was 0.20 when he was fatally struck on Interstate 595 near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport just before dawn April 9. That’s 2.5 times the 0.08 legal limit for driving in the state, the AP reported.

Haskins, 24, also had the painkiller ketamine and its metabolite norketamine in his system. The drug can be prescribed by a doctor but can also be abused recreationally. The report does not say why the former Washington star had it in his system.

Haskins had been in South Florida training with some of his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates. The autopsy report said Haskins had dinner with teammates and then went to a club with a friend or cousin, possibly in Miami. The two got argued and separated.

Haskins was walking to get gas when he was fatally struck by a dump truck on April 9. Haskins was pronounced dead at the scene.

Audio of a 911 call, obtained by Fox Sports talk show host Andy Slater, includes a concerned call from Haskins' widow, Kalabrya Haskins. She told a dispatcher that Haskins had called her from the side of the road near Interstate 95 in Broward County, and said he would call her back when he finished putting gas in the vehicle.

The autopsy report said investigators found Haskins’ car out of gas near where he was hit. A woman he was with told investigators Haskins, 24, had gone to get fuel. Witnesses said he was trying to wave down cars and standing in the center lane when he was hit by the truck and then an SUV.

The report said he died of blunt force trauma. The medical examiner ruled Haskins' death an accident, AP reported. No charges have been filed.

The Steelers told investigators that Haskins had no mental health issues and had never made any suicidal threats. They said he sometimes drank heavily and sometimes used marijuana, but was not known to use any other recreational drugs, AP reported.

Haskins' high school, Bullis School in Potomac, retired Haskins' No. 7 jersey, WUSA said. He graduated from the Bullis School in 2016, WTOP reported. He originally committed to play college football at the University of Maryland before deciding to play for Ohio State University. Haskins was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2018.

The Haskins family issued a statement in mid-April on the quarterback's death. "We have had such an overwhelming outpouring of love for our son since the news broke of our loss," parents Tamara and Dwayne Haskins Sr. said in a statement first reported by WUSA-TV.

"Anyone who knew Dwayne, knows he worked exceptionally hard to achieve such a high level of success at such a young age. He was touched by so many people on his journey to being a standout athlete and we are grateful to all of them. This pain is unimaginable and we appreciate everyone who shares in our heartbreak."

Haskins was a first-round pick of Washington's NFL franchise who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago.

Following his junior season at Ohio State, Haskins was selected 15th overall by the Washington Commanders in the 2019 draft. He spent two seasons with Washington before signing with the Steelers and was the team's third-string quarterback in 2021.

Haskins had a 2-5 record in his seven starts as a Washington rookie, and then went 1-5 in six starts for the team in 2020, WTOP said.

Before the 911 audio was posted online April 20, few details had emerged as to why Haskins was walking on the highway when he was killed.

Police have said they will not have further statements until their investigation is complete, which could take three to four months.

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