NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The Thomas Nelson Community College community is remembering a mentor, coach, brother and friend.
On what would have been his 40th birthday, Armand Brown’s players and colleagues are remembering him as a man who changed them for the better.
Amari Aklin said he couldn’t believe the news when he found out Coach Brown had passed away.
“At first I didn’t believe it. It didn’t feel real,” said Aklin. “Any situation he made it better, he’s been there, helping me making better decisions.”
Virginia State Police are investigating the single-vehicle accident that killed Brown early Saturday morning.
Emergency communications received the call at 3:27 a.m. for a single-vehicle accident with injuries on I-64 westbound on Jefferson Avenue in Newport News.
The investigation revealed that Brown was driving down I-64 West when he lost control, overcorrected, and veered off the road before striking a tree.
Brown was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
He was wearing his seatbelt and police say alcohol did not play a factor in the accident.
TNCC athletic director Chad Smith says the community is heartbroken by the news.
“Coach Brown has been a big brother, a mentor but also a great coach to the student athletes who come through at Thomas Nelson Community College,” said Smith. “It’s greatly impacted our college as well as the Peninsula community.”
The TNCC community held a vigil for Brown on the campus at 7 p.m. on Monday.
