Southport High School football player remembered
SOUTHPORT, Ind. (WISH) — Monday at Southport High School, the absence of student football player Rashawn Haskins, killed in a Saturday night car crash, was felt.
The flag on campus was flying at half-staff. The football field was bare. And loved ones at the school were mourning the senior’s death.
Head football coach Brandon Winters called the 18-year old an outstanding man both on and off the field.
“Our entire community, our school building is obviously devastated. I think it’ll be felt here for awhile and by a lot of people,” said Winters.
“I just think he’s a fantastic kid, and words can’t really express everything I feel about him. We love him and I believe he knows that,” said Winters.
Haskins was a standout football player and former basketball player for the school. On Saturday morning, Haskins was selected for the 6A Indiana Football Coaches Association All State Team. Later that night, he died after a crash.
Haskins was riding with his 17-year-old girlfriend, who was driving Saturday night when she turned in front of a Jeep traveling north on Main Street near U.S. 31, according to Deputy Chief Matthew Fillenwarth with Greenwood Police Department. The Jeep had a green light, Fillenwarth said.
According to Fillenwarth, Haskins was taken to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, where he died of his injuries. The 17-year-old girl driving the sedan was checked and released. Rashawn’s sister was in the backseat of the sedan. The driver of the jeep was checked out at the scene but did not need hospitalization. Rashawn’s girlfriend was checked and released. His sister is expected to make it, according to school officials
Fillenwarth said both drivers and the backseat passenger were given blood draws, as is standard procedure in a fatal crash investigation.
It wasn’t just his talent on the field that got Haskins noticed.
“He’s got kind of a bigger following than just football. He’s kind of a kid that gets along with different groups of people,” said Winters.
Haskins’ talent, competitive nature and positive outlook on life is what Winters will miss the most: “Big smile all the time. If he was having a bad day, you couldn’t really tell by his body language, which is what I’ll always remember.”
“It’s a tremendous loss for the community because he’s an outstanding young man. He was well respected and well liked,” said Winters.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Haskins family with funeral arrangements. If you would like to contribute, click here.