Following the death last November of 60-year-old local, volunteer football coach Dwight Downer as a result of a hit and run car crash, police said a second person has been arrested in connection with the incident. 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, who was the partner of Bronx Community Board 7 board member Tasha Andrews, was killed in the road accident which involved multiple vehicles a few minutes after midnight on Nov. 30, 2024.

 

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.

 

On Thursday, March 13, police said they arrested 27-year-old Orville Barry of Yonkers in connection with the incident. They said he was charged with leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, and third-degree aggravated, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 

Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, on May 8, police said Sheydon McLean, 25, of Westchester Avenue in The Bronx was also arrested in connection with the incident. They said he was charged the same day at 10.08 a.m. in the confines of the 47th Precinct, with manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide, as well as a motor vehicle violation (no license). 

Barry and McLean are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

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.