Head-on crash kills ex-college football player, Virginia cops say. ‘Hearts are heavy’
.png "Deane Cheatham was a former tight end at James Madison University.")
A former college football player died in a head-on wreck in Virginia, officials say.
Hanover County deputies said Martin “Deane” Cheatham died on Saturday, Jan. 7, after his Ford F-150 crossed over a double solid line and collided with a utility truck driving the opposite direction. Cheatham was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
The crash is under investigation, and officers are working to determine the cause, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Cheatham, 30, was a former tight end for James Madison University’s football team.
“Hearts are heavy as we lost one of our own,” the team said in a Jan. 8 Facebook post.
The community is remembering Cheatham as “a great teammate and even better person,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“Deane was such a nice kid and loved his JMU teammates and our beloved JMU Nation,” another player’s mom wrote in a Facebook comment. “This is so sad. We will always love you Deane beans.”
“Terrible and unthinkable news. Great memories to reflect on,” another commenter wrote.
Cheatham played at James Madison from 2011-15 and was a captain during his senior season.
James Madison is about 130 miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia.
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Head-on crash kills ex-college football player, Virginia cops say. ‘Hearts are heavy’."
