LOWELL, Mass. — A horrific car crash in Lowell claimed the life of a well-known youth basketball coach Wednesday morning.
The basketball community was in shock after Ramon Rivera, 52, was killed in a crash when another driver rear-ended his car.
Friends told Boston 25 News the man -- nicknamed 'Chung' -- was a legend in Lowell both on and off the basketball court.
“[He was] sweet, kind, a great person. He was loved by many. He was well-known in Lowell,” Esperanza Cruz said.
Just after 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, witnesses say Rivera was turning into the Dunkin’ Donuts when his car was rear-ended. The impact forced his car into a telephone pole.
The other driver kept driving after hitting Rivera and surveillance footage shows the car taking out a sign before finally stopping.
That driver -- who has not been identified -- was taken to the hospital.
Rivera graduated from Lowell High School in 1985 before heading to the University of Houston on a basketball scholarship.
In 2006, he was inducted into Lowell High's athletics hall of fame.
“It's very sad, he meant a lot to this neighborhood -- inspiring many of these kids who probably didn't think they much,” Keith Rudy said.
Rivera was never far from the court.
He had been a youth basketball coach in the city for years, giving back to a sport and community that he loved.
“He was definitely one of the greatest things that happened to a lot of kids here in Lowell, including my son. May he rest in peace, he's going to be very missed,” Cruz said.
The district attorney's office says so far, no one has been charged with the crash -- and no arrest have been made.
MORE: Car smashes through sign of liquor store in 2-car crash in Lowell
Cox Media Group
