Reports: Long Island High School Basketball Coach Darrell Sumpter loses life in car crash

By Insiya Johar

Modified Dec 16, 2024 21:58 GMT

Follow Us

Share

0 Discuss

Long Island basketball community mourns the loss of respected coach Darrell Sumpter. He passed away in a tragic car crash on Friday on Sunrise Highway between Horseblock Road and William Floyd Parkway at 1:37 p.m.

Mr. Sumpter was driving a 2002 Cadillac when his car swerved and collided with a 2021 Ford utility truck. Both vehicles overturned. Fortunately, Sumpter's wife - Susan - and truck driver Jason Troccoli - survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital. However, Darrell Sumpter couldn't survive.

No charges have been filed for the crash, and the vehicles have been sent for safety checks. In a press release, the WFSD (William Floyd School District) offered an eulogy to Darrell Sumpter.

"Mr. Sumpter was a longtime community member, a family man, and a highly-regarded coach and mentor for our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs. Colleagues, fellow coaches and social workers met with the boys' and girls' teams yesterday to share this tragic news. We will continue to have grief and crisis counselors available for any students who may need them."

Even Legislator Jim Mazzarella penned a heartfelt note.

"People like Coach Darrell Sumpter do not come around every day. The William Floyd community was blessed to have him despite his tragic and premature exit. Those fortunate enough to have known him won’t forget his passionate nature for people and the game of basketball."

Darrell Sumpter is survived by his partner, Susan, and four children. Following his loss, his three daughters also wrote heartfelt notes expressing their grief.

“My right hand.. my everything and more. If you know, you know,” she wrote. “I miss you already daddy 🥺💔," wrote Dej Sumpter.

"I love u daddy," wrote Sierra Sumpter.

"If I’ve learned anything it’s that time is a gift,” she wrote. “Don’t waste it because tomorrow isn’t promised to none of us. I’m so grateful (that I know) my dad loved me and my daughter, and we had such a dope bond," wrote Sumpter's third daughter, Lindsay Mae.

The Sumpter family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs and living expenses for his widow. The page has amassed 718 donations worth $57,599 and is nearing its goal of $60k.

Darrell Sumpter-coached William Floyd School District's game performance

Darrell Sumpter was an assistant basketball coach at William Floyd School District for nearly a decade and also served as a youth volunteer. The WFSD's basketball roster has shown a stellar performance this month. Out of the five games played till now, they clinched the victory in four games. They just lost a game against the Elmont Boys Basketball team by a narrow margin of 47-49. The next match is scheduled against Longwood Boys Basketball on 17th December at 5 p.m.