Brother of NY's Stoudemire killed in Fla. crash

By foxsports
Published

Hazell Stoudemire, the older brother of New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, died early Monday morning in a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 27 in Lake Wales, Fla.
Hazell Stoudemire was driving his 2007 Cadillac Escalade just after 1:30 a.m. Monday when he struck the back of a semi truck driven by 58-year-old Rupert A. Fairclough of Auburndale, Fla.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Hazell Stoudemire, 35, was traveling behind Fairclough at a high rate of speed and struck Fairclough’s trailer while trying to pass the truck.
Stoudemire was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. Fairclough was not injured.

Amar’e Stoudemire, who was born in Lake Wales, won Florida's Mr. Basketball award in 2002 as a senior at Cypress Creek High School in nearby Orlando. 
The Phoenix Suns drafted Amar’e Stoudemire with the ninth pick in the 2002 NBA draft. In July 2010, he signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Knicks. In 22 games this season, he has averaged 18.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
A Knicks spokesman said Amar'e Stoudemire will not play Monday night against the Utah Jazz in New York, as he has traveled home to Florida to be with his family. The team does not know when he will return. The Knicks travel to Washington, DC, for a game against the Wizards on Wednesday and return home to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.