Former Poughkeepsie HS Football Player Killed Helping Crash Victim

Jaquan Cesar, a Beacon resident and Poughkeepsie High School graduate, was killed around 1:15 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, at the scene of a multiple-vehicle crash on the expressway near Webster Avenue, said the NYPD.

According to a preliminary investigation, Cesar got out of his vehicle after seeing there was a crash to help the driver of a 2015 Mercedes Benz that had struck a 2012 GMC. 

While attempting to help those injured in the crash, a third vehicle, a 2013 BMW, hit the Mercedes, and Cesar was thrown over the barrier into the eastbound lane of the expressway where he was hit by another vehicle that fled the scene, NYPD officials said.

The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the incident, which also killed Rikers Island correction officer Richard Lue, 22, who was driving the GMC.

Cesar was born at Jamaica Hospital and attended Sacred Heart School, Poughkeepsie Middle School, Poughkeepsie High School, Morrisville College and Borough of Manhattan Community College. He played Pop Warner for The Poughkeepsie Pioneers, JV at freshman year of Poughkeepsie High School and then Varsity sophomore, junior and senior years. 

He continued playing football at SUNY Morrisville. He played defensive back and running back at both schools. 

"Jaquan was passionate and loved football and was a strong leader and mentor to many," his obituary said.

After college, Cesar worked as a hemodialysis technician and has worked at several dialysis clinics in the New York City Area and Hudson Valley New York. He expressed joy working with colleagues providing life-sustaining treatments to End Stage Renal Patients.

He is survived by his girlfriend Edwina Cepeda Aracena, son Yasir Michelet Cesar, brothers Jordan Cesar, Curtis Matthew LaForce, Jr., grandmother Sonia D. Cesar, grandfather Georges Michelet Cesar, Sr., and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Cesar was predeceased by his mother Josefa Michelle Cesar and friends Abdelle St. Agne and Alvin Hayles.

A gathering will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 at Beulah Baptist Church, 92 Catharine St., Poughkeepsie. Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. at the church. Rev. Jesse V. Bottoms will officiate. Interment 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at All Saints Cemetery, 855 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck.

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