The tragic loss that sent waves of grief across the William Floyd community first appeared as a routine police report.
“Incident: Man Killed in Motor Vehicle Crash,” read the dispatch from the Suffolk Police. “Location: Sunrise Highway, 1½ miles east of Horseblock Road, Shirley. Date/Time: Friday, December 13, 2024 at 1:37 p.m.
Word spread quickly; it was beloved coach Darrell Sumpter, leaving his family, friends, teachers, and students stunned.
“Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man in Shirley today,” the report continued. “Darrell Sumpter was driving a 2002 Cadillac westbound in the left lane of Sunrise Highway, 1½ miles east of Horseblock Road, when the vehicle swerved and struck a 2021 Ford utility truck traveling in the right lane. Both vehicles left the roadway and overturned at 1:37 p.m. Sumpter, 51, of Shirley, was pronounced dead at the scene.”
A passenger, Susan Sumpter, 48, of Shirley, and the driver of the Ford, Jason Troccoli, 52, of Lake Ronkonkoma, were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the report. The vehicles were impounded for a safety check. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.
Memorials flooded in. “Mr. Sumpter was a proud William Floyd graduate, a longtime community member, a family man, and a highly-regarded coach and mentor for our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs,” said a remembrance sent out by the William Floyd School District. “He served as an assistant basketball coach on the boys’ varsity team since 2015 and as a volunteer for the youth of the community for many years before that. Coach Darrell was instrumental in the creation of the WFSD youth basketball program and booster club that has made a difference in the lives of so many boys’ and girls’ student-athletes within our community.”
According to the district, colleagues, fellow coaches, and social workers met with the boys' and girls' teams to share this tragic news. “We will continue to have grief and crisis counselors available for any students who may need them. Members of the William Floyd school community have also reached out to the Sumpter family and will continue to offer any support that is needed in the coming days and weeks. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Sumpter’s family, friends, and all of the student-athletes who loved and cared for him.”