Donnell Hickson dies at 43

Three communities are in mourning.

Baldwin resident Donnell Hickson, 43, who worked at the Oceanside Costco and was a track star at Lawrence High School died in a June 20 car crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which also killed his two children — son, Decir, 18 and daughter, Kyla, 11. He is survived by his wife Keisha and Decir’s mother, Martinique.

They were in a 2018 Honda Accord headed east around 4:25 a.m. on the Turnpike in Penn Township, Lancaster County when they collided with a FedEx tractor-trailer also going east, according to Pennsylvania State police.

The force of the collision caused both vehicles to leave the roadway, all three family members were pronounced dead on the scene, according to police.

Hickson ran winter and spring track, and also played football all four years at Lawrence. He graduated in 1999.

Lawrence track coach Bud McQuillan expressed his deepest condolences and reflected on his time with Hickson and who he was as a person.

“He was a guy that would do anything for anyone, he always had a smile from ear to ear,” McQuillan said.

Hickson attended York College in Queens where he was an All-American and competed in the 2005 NCAA championships for the triple jump.

“He would do any event, he used to say to me, whatever events you need me to do, I’ll do,” McQuillan added.

Hickson never missed a track practice in all four years and had physical talents to compete in any event.

“He was a hell of a 400 runner and even better jumper,” McQuillan said. “He was one of the best triple jumpers on Long Island and became an all NY State jumper his senior year and competed in nationals down in Carolina.”

After graduating, Hickson applied his track knowledge to help McQuillan teach the young jumpers the skills they needed to be successful.

Hickson worked at Costco in Oceanside. As of press time administrative staff declined to comment.

An online fundraiser was created to raise money for his wife Keisha and son Martinique to help pay for funeral expenses and any other immediate or necessary expenses.

According to the fundraiser, Decir was preparing for college and his sister Kyla was an aspiring cartoonist. 

“Donnell was Lawrence track royalty, the class on 1999 lost a superstar in my eyes,” McQuillan said.

The link to the fundraiser is GoFundme.com/F/Three-Lives-Lost-Two-Mothers-Need-Our-Support.

There is no burial or funeral info at the time of print.