Feb. 25, 2019

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boeheim crash

After fatal crash, Boeheim says ‘It doesn’t matter how I feel’ By Nick Alvarez, KJ Edelman and Michael McCleary the daily orange

JIM BOEHEIM coached against No. 1 Duke on Saturday less than 72 hours after he was involved in a car crash that killed 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez. alexandra moreo senior staff photographer

Moment of silence held Saturday before Duke game By Billy Heyen

senior staff writer

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s Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim took the floor on Saturday, tears streamed down his wife Juli’s face. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who Boeheim calls a “true friend,� stood near his bench, clapped and embraced Boeheim for a few seconds and whispered a message in his ear. The nation’s No. 1 team and a record crowd were in the Carrier Dome. But Saturday evening was ultimately overshadowed by the tragic crash involving Boeheim late Wednesday along Interstate 690. Boeheim coached on Saturday less than 72 hours after he fatally struck a pedestrian walking on the highway, 51-year-old Jorge Jimenez of Syracuse. SU (18-9, 9-5 Atlantic Coast) lacked the offense to beat No. 1 Duke (24-3, 12-2), but before and after the game, the events of Wednesday night were at the front of everyone’s minds. “First and foremost, to the Jimenez family, I want them to know how truly devastated I am for my involvement in the loss of their loved one, Jorge Jimenez,� said Boeheim, in his first public remarks since the crash, in a postgame press conference. “The grief his family is feeling at this time is, simply put, unimaginable. On Wednesday night, Jimenez was in a vehicle that lost control, swerved into a guardrail and ended up in the middle of I-690 eastbound near Thompson Road, a Syracuse Police Department spokesman said. The oncoming vehicle, driven by Boeheim, then tried to avoid the disabled car but hit Jimenez, who was standing on the side of the road, police said. All involved, including Boeheim, remained on the scene and cooperated with SPD, according to police. Police said neither driver involved in the crash was under the influence of alcohol. Before the game Saturday, a public address announcer read, in English and Spanish, a call for a moment of silence in honor of Jimenez, who emigrated from Cuba decades ago. Soon after, during the national anthem, Boeheim wiped tears from his eyes. The head coach of 43 years was at the Carrier Dome on Saturday because he felt an obligation to the players he recruited, Boeheim said. He met with them Thursday and told them to “stay the course,� sophomore forward Oshae Brissett said. Then Boeheim returned to full practice Friday. He wanted his players to think of the Jimenez family, but he also felt it was his heartache to bear, and that they should focus on basketball, Brissett added. see boeheim page 4

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A report shows that school districts throughout New York, including the Syracuse City School District, are grappling with a shortage of bus drivers. Page 3

O eĂŹ )<9%0ĂŹ)143;)61)28ĂŹ Student Life columnist Jennifer Bancamper calls for an open discussion about sex, especially among women, to put an end to sexuality shaming. Page 5

Brian Hernandez remembered how much his father liked to laugh. A good cook, Jorge Jimenez always invited friends over to eat. He would cook traditional Spanish dishes with rice, he’d dance on the patio and laugh. In the summer, he’d roam the JIMENEZ sidewalk on Richmond Avenue, where he used to live, and take part in community cookouts. He was the “life of the party,� Hernandez, 19, said. Jimenez, of the 100 block of Dablon Court, died after he was struck by head coach Jim Boeheim driving along Interstate 690 on Wednesday night. Jimenez was transported to Upstate University Hospital following the crash and was pronounced dead while there. He was 51. Joel Sanchez, a Syracuse resident who said he knew Jimenez for 20 years, remembered working with Jimenez at Colonial Laundromat, along the 1600 block of West Genesee Street, in 2003. Sanchez translated for Jimenez at doctor’s appointments or official meetings, Sanchez said. In return, Jimenez would do handiwork for Sanchez and didn’t take any payment in return.

Jimenez, who emigrated from Cuba decades ago, was a New York Yankees fan. His favorite player was Derek Jeter. He loved baseball and played often with his kids. Hernandez said his father always had a coaches mentality and, from the sideline, looked to help Hernandez improve at baseball. When Hernandez struggled with his swing, Jimenez helped him fix it. It was just his personality — who he was. “He always made sure you were OK,� his former neighbor Alfredo Cordero said. “I’ll remember that about him.� Jimenez cooked for his neighbors “by surprise� when he previously lived on Richmond Avenue, Cordero said. He would cook Cuban cuisine, and offer help to people next door often. At Geddes Deli & Grocery, Jimenez would spend most of time hanging outside of the store and a nearby smoke shop. Occasionally, the corner of Richmond and North Genesee would host barbecues and Jiminez would “just walk like 10 steps outside his house, have fun, and go back home,� said Louis Pizarro, a resident who’s frequently near Geddes. Sometimes he would cook, other times he would eat ribs, Cordero said. “You see a 50-year-old man hanging with 18-19 kids and he’s out there dancing with them,� Ali Bakil, a neighborhood friend of Jimenez, said. “It makes him funny.� see jimenez page 4

editorial board

Boeheim, SU can help honor Jorge Jimenez’s life

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here’s a tangible way for Jim Boeheim or Syracuse University to help the family of Jorge Jimenez. Fund the rest of a GoFundMe drive organized by Jimenez’s son, Brian Hernandez, to help pay for the costs of Jimenez’s funeral arrangements. The Daily Orange Editorial Board urges Boeheim and SU to consider this donation. As of about 11:45 p.m. Sunday, just $4,770 was needed before Hernandez’s goal was met. In a series of statements released following the tragic crash Wednesday night, SU officials expressed condolences and sympathies to Jimenez’s family. They also said it was horrifying that a member of the local area had been killed. “I am heartbroken that a member of our community died as the result of last night’s accident,� Boeheim said. It was horrific. They’re right. And here’s how Boeheim or SU could further help. As of late Sunday, there was just under $5,000 remaining before the $15,000 GoFundMe campaign was completed. Hernandez, in an inter-

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Ophelia’s Place, a nonprofit based in Liverpool, aims to bring attention to National Eating Disorders Awareness Week through body positivity and fashion shows. Page 7

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view last week with The Daily Orange, said the money raised online would go toward Jimenez’s funeral costs. Jimenez’s family wishes that the funeral be held in Syracuse, with an open-casket wake, Hernandez said. A meaningful contribution by Boeheim or SU to this fund wouldn’t go unnoticed. Especially after a record-breaking crowd of people packed into the Carrier Dome for Syracuse’s matchup with No. 1 Duke this weekend — in some cases community members paid thousands of dollars for just a single ticket Saturday. Put that money to good use. Help Jimenez’s family honor his life like they want to.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. Are you interested in pitching a topic for the editorial board to discuss? Email opinion@dailyorange.com.

Syracuse men’s lacrosse beat No. 13 Army, 10-8, on Sunday. The Orange pressured the Black Knights, creating a plan for future matchups this season. Page 12

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