Following the death amid a road collision on Saturday, Nov. 30, of 60-year-old local, volunteer football coach Dwight Downer, players, friends and colleagues have been paying tribute to their friend and mentor. Downer coached local football team the Bronx Buccaneers, who regularly practice in the Williamsbridge Oval in Norwood, as well as Bedford Park’s DeWitt Clinton football team.

 

As reported, Downer, nicknamed “Coach D” from Eastchester Road in the Laconia section of the East Bronx, was killed in the road accident, which involved multiple vehicles, on Saturday morning a few minutes after midnight.

 

Following news of his passing, one post from DeWitt Clinton Football read, “It’s with a heavy heart that we inform you Coach Dwight Downer has passed away. Over the past 6 years, our community has been blessed to have Coach D volunteer his time and teach the Bronx youth the game of football. Coach D volunteered his time to work with our student athletes on a daily basis.”

The post continued, “He worked with our High School students as our JV Defensive Coordinator and Varsity Assistant. He never missed a game or practice. On top of coaching our student athletes, Coach D also works with the @bronx_buccaneers as the 14U head coach. Coach D was a role model for students of all ages in the Bronx.”

 

The post concluded, “He truly cared about the person more than the player. He helped and mentored multiple student athletes and did this on his own time and never asked to be compensated for his time. Our community will greatly miss a role model like Coach D, however just know our community is a better place because of his hard work and love for his community. Coach D you will be missed and we know he’ll be with us every time we step on the field. RIP”

 

In another tribute from the Bronx Buccaneers, the team wrote, “At 1:30 a.m., we received a call that you were no longer with us. An idiot that ran a red light took you away from us. This is one of the hardest days in my life. You were a true friend, mentor and coach. You were willing to [do] anything for our kids.”

 

In response, another person wrote, “I want to say real quick that this is very heartbreaking, but to the youth real quick.. I’m a teenager too, but ya gotta learn how to tune ya emotions. We all learning how to get thru the grieving process, but Coach D wouldn’t want us causing havoc behind his name. Take a knee, say a prayer, and now let time do its thing. Don’t focus on the bad things, the Devil is out to get us when we’re most vulnerable.” 

 

As reported, police said officers from the 47th Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding a pedestrian who had been struck at the intersection of Givan Avenue and Eastchester Road in the East Bronx, south of Edenwald.

 

“Further investigation by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 2013 BMW 328 XI, operated by a 24-year-old male was traveling eastbound on Eastchester Road, when he struck an unknown pick-up truck that was traveling northbound on Givan Avenue,” a police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson continued, “After the initial impact, the BMW collided with a parked and unattended 2020 Acura MDX, a 2007 Nissan Murano, and a 60-year-old male pedestrian who was standing alongside the Nissan. After striking the pedestrian, the BMW collided with a parked and unattended 2014 Honda Accord and a 2007 Toyota Camry.”

 

Police said EMS responded to the scene and transported the pedestrian to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi where he was pronounced deceased. They said the driver of the BMW remained at the scene and was later also transported by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi for minor injuries.

They said there are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad.

 

With collision investigations, the NYPD handles all criminal aspects of the investigations, while NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)  reviews the street design at the locations of such crashes.

 

Students and community members gathered at DeWitt Clinton High School on Tuesday, Dec. 3, for a celebration of Downer’s life. All were welcome to attend. Bronx Buccaneers will hold a vigil on Friday, Dec. 6, at 6.30 p.m. on the Williamsbridge Oval football field in Norwood.

 

A gofundme page has also been set up by the Downer Family, the link to which can be accessed here. The accompanying message reads, “At 12:10 a.m. on 11/30, our father, Dwight Downer, was tragically killed by a hit and run driver on Eastchester Rd in the Bronx. Our father was more than just our dad he was a pillar in the community and had a positive impact on each and every person that knew him.

 

Whether you knew him as “Coach D”, “Dwight”, or “Uncle Paul”, everyone loved our father. For the past 12 years he has volunteered his time teaching football at his former high school Dewitt Clinton High School and the Bronx Buccaneers. He truly enjoyed being a role model and mentor for the youth of the Bronx.

 

At this difficult time our family is gratefully accepting donations to help cover the cost of funeral arrangements and any other related costs incurred. Any remaining funds will be donated to the football programs where he volunteered his time.”