Baltimore Ravens cornerback Tray Walker died Friday from injuries suffered in a dirt bike accident in Liberty City, Fla. Walker, 23, suffered serious head injuries after crashing into an SUV Thursday night.
Walker was riding a Honda dirt bike with no lights when he crashed into a Ford Escape and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition, the Miami-Dade police stated. The former fourth round draft pick was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and he was just entering his second season in NFL.
"Tray was a young man with a good and kind heart. He was humble and loved everything about being part of the Ravens' team," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "He was humble and loved everything about being part of the Ravens' team. He loved his teammates - the practice and the preparation - and that showed every day."
Walker played college football at Texas Southern and recorded two tackles in his first season in the league. The Ravens corner was a hard worker, as he made it to the NFL despite receiving only one collegiate scholarship. The young man left a resounding impression on his teammates and had dedicated his first season in the NFL to his father, Tommy Lee Walker, who had died from a heart attack back in November of 2014.
"Tray was a young man who had a way about him that he could light up a room with a smile," Ravens defensive backs coach Chris Hewitt said. "Once you got to know him, he was one of the funniest guys. Whenever I got angry, he could make me laugh in a tense situation and bring me back to a cooler head. He challenged me as a coach, because he had a thirst for knowledge. And although things didn't always go his way, he was ready for the next battle or challenge that you presented to him."
Walker's teammates will all remember how his smile lit up the locker room, and in only one season, he left a lasting impression on veteran players like wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and quarterback Joe Flacco. "Tray was a young man who was full of enerygy and promise," Flacco said. "This is very hard to wrap my head around, and I am devastated. As a parent, I cannot imagine what his family is going through right now. All of my thoughts are with them. My hope is that we can be a little bit of help by being a second family for them."
"Times like this make you hug your kids tighter. A mother lost her son today, and a family lost their brother, including us, his extended family," Smith said. "Tray had a bright future ahead of him outside of football and was a guy who lit up the room with his personality. I will miss seeing him every day and seeing that bright smile he always wore. I pray that his family can find peace. Rest well, Tray."
