In an unprecedented twist in the mysterious death of Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins, his family has filed a lawsuit claiming his death was the result of a blackmail and robbery scheme gone awry.
Dwayne Haskins was killed on the morning of April 9, 2022, after being hit by a dump truck while trying to cross the I-595 highway in Florida. He was reportedly on his way to a flight out to Steelers training camp. He was 24 years old.
The lawsuit, which names four people, two restaurants, a rental car company, a golf driving range, and a hotel as defendants, alleges neglect on the part of the companies and possible links to a robbery and blackmail conspiracy, which ultimately led to his death.
According to a statement via the family’s attorney, Rick Ellsley, “It is believed that Dwayne was targeted and drugged as part of a blackmail and robbery conspiracy. In fact, his highly-expensive watch was stolen from him shortly before his death.”
In short, the family alleges that the Boca Raton Hotel Group, Drive Shack Palm Beach, Blue Anchor Pub, and E11Even Miami allowed for an environment in which patrons could take drugs and drug others. Then it ties four individuals to Haskin’s inebriation and death by drugging him with the intention to blackmail and rob him. His blood alcohol was determined to be between .20 and .24 (the legal limit is .08 in Florida), and a byproduct of ketamine was found in his system, which is a tranquilizer but is also used as a recreational drug.
The family is also accusing the rental car company of providing Haskins with a mechanistically faulty car, leading to him needing to cross the highway to procure fuel for the car.
Lastly, the dump truck company and its driver are being sued for negligent, high-speed operation of the vehicle; and not meeting the weight standards set by the state, which would’ve allowed the truck to brake more efficiently.
The family is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
