The basketball world was shaken by the terrible news: LeBron James, the living legend of the NBA, died just 45 minutes ago in a horrific traffic accident on a Miami freeway. The incident happened in a flash but left a scene filled with smoke, explosions, and tears from thousands of witnesses.
Witnesses said that at around 7 p.m., LeBron’s black sports car suddenly lost control at high speed. “We heard a very loud screech, then immediately a loud explosion, flames burst out like a giant ball,” a driver on the road said. The cars behind braked suddenly, causing chaos that lasted for kilometers.
Thick black smoke covered the entire freeway. Flames dozens of meters high paralyzed traffic for hours. Miami firefighters immediately blocked off the area, using chemical foam to extinguish the fire. Paparazzi and fans nearby jostled to take pictures, the flash of cameras flashing continuously mixed with the red and blue lights of the police car.
A witness, a traffic officer, shared in fear: “The whole car turned into a fireball. When we pulled the car door open, LeBron James was unconscious, his body was burned. It was the most haunting image of my life.”
Medical staff rushed to the scene amid smoke and broken glass, placing LeBron on a stretcher to the cries of fans gathered on the side of the road. They tried to perform CPR on the spot, put on an oxygen mask, and used an electrocardiograph. The sound of “Clear!” rang out many times, but the electrocardiogram remained flat.
The ambulance left the scene with its siren, rushing towards Jackson Memorial Hospital. Fans ran after it, shouting “Don’t leave us, LeBron!”. Police had to set up barricades to block the desperate crowd trying to follow.
When the ambulance arrived, the ICU was brightly lit with white lights, dozens of doctors rushed into the last effort. The monitor kept alerting red, adrenaline was injected continuously, the electric shock machine hit the chest many times. But the head doctor of the emergency department choked up and confirmed: “LeBron James died before being admitted to the hospital. There were no signs of life recorded.”
The news spread in an instant, making the hospital the center of global attention. Outside, hundreds of fans burst into tears, put white flowers and lit candles, turning the sidewalk into a sea of mournful light.
Major news agencies such as ESPN, CNN, BBC simultaneously released urgent news. On social media, #PrayForLeBron and #GoodbyeKingJames climbed straight to the top 1 globally in just a few minutes.
Former teammate Dwyane Wade wrote: “I can’t believe it. He was not just a friend, but family. My heart is broken.”
The US President also sent condolences, calling LeBron “an icon beyond sports, an inspiration to millions.”
While fans gathered in front of the hospital, a small overpass nearby suddenly collapsed due to the overload of mourners. At least 12 people were injured, and ambulances had to turn back from the ICU for emergency treatment. The chaos made the scene even more tragic, like a never-ending series of tragedies.
At midnight in Miami, the whole city did not sleep. Candles stretched for hundreds of meters, and choked sobs mixed with the distant sound of ocean waves. People began to discuss a state funeral for the “King James” of basketball. Upcoming NBA games were at risk of being canceled in memory.
The death of LeBron James was not only a loss for American basketball, but also a shock to humanity — a moment that left the whole world speechless. And the question left: Who will fill the void left by this legend?
