Former NFL Star Cedric Benson Dies In Motorcycle Crash

Fiery collision with minivan kills former football star and his passenger

Former NFL running back Cedric Benson died last Saturday night in a motorcycle crash. Benson, 36, was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a minivan at an intersection in Austin, Texas. He was pronounced dead at the scene along with an unidentified woman, who was presumably his passenger.

The collision caused the minivan to catch fire, but the occupants reportedly were not injured and remained at the scene. Speed and poor visibility were factors in the crash, TMZ reports, according to local police. The report also claims the minivan driver "most likely won't be charged with a crime."

Eerily, Benson posted a picture of his bike on his Instagram account that day, with the caption: "My Saturday evening!" The photo shows two helmets resting on a BMW K 1300 S. The photo has since been removed from his account.

Cedric Benson Instagram PageCedric Benson Instagram Page

Benson’s football career gained prominence when he was a Texas Longhorn, having amassed 5,540 yards and 64 rushing touchdowns to become the ninth-leading rusher in NCAA history. He won the Doak Walker Award in 2004, given to the nation's top collegiate-level running back, and he was drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bears in 2005.

Benson helped the Bears win the NFC championship in 2006, and he later went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals where he tallied three 1,000-plus-yard seasons from 2009 to 2011. In 2012 he was dealt to the Green Bay Packers but retired that season after a foot injury.

Benson has a record of several incidents with the police, including drunk driving and assault convictions. We hope alcohol wasn’t a factor in his death aboard a motorcycle.

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