Dennis Byrd, one of the most inspirational athletes in New York history, was killed Saturday in a two-car collision in Oklahoma. Byrd was 50 years old.
Byrd, a former Jets defensive end, broke his neck in a game against the Chiefs on Nov. 29, 1992. Doctors thought he would never walk again, but he defied their prognosis and walked weeks later.
The crash happened at about 11:15 a.m., according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol near the town of Claremore. A 17-year-old driving a 2000 Ford Explorer on Route 88 veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a 2004 Hummer H2 driven by Byrd, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe injuries.