Keith BieryGolick

kbierygolick@enquirer.com

A University of Cincinnati football player from Lakota East High School was killed in a motorcycle crash Thursday, a UC official said.

Chamoda Kennedy-Palmore, a non-scholarship football player, was killed when a vehicle turned across two lanes of traffic and hit his motorcycle around 1:30 p.m., according to Cincinnati Police Department Spokesperson Tiffaney Hardy.

He was 19.

Kennedy-Palmore was wearing a helmet and proper gear, UC spokesman Ryan Koslen said.

"Our football program and university has suffered another great tragedy," said UC football coach Tommy Tuberville in a prepared statement.

"I'm a father first and a coach second and it's always hard to put your thoughts into words during times like these. Chamoda was a talented non-scholarship player and a key member of our scout teams. He worked hard and earned his spot on the roster. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

During his weekly radio show on WLW-AM (700), Tuberville said 25 relatives were in the emergency room with Kennedy-Palmore when he died.

"It just breaks your heart," he said.

"It's a lesson to all of us. Live every day and every minute. Hug who you love."

The crash happened on Vine Street near Glen Este Place and Woolper Avenue. Sherry Smith-Martin failed to yield the right of way and was struck by Kennedy-Palmore's Suzuki motorcycle, according to a news release from the Cincinnati Police Department.

Smith-Martin was listed in serious but stable condition Thursday night, police said.

Criminal charges have not been filed Hardy said. No charges would be filed until after the investigation closes.

Lakota East football coach Rick Haynes said Kennedy-Palmore "was an awesome kid"

He originally committed to Georgetown College, Haynes said. He was second-team all-GMC in 2012 at Lakota East with 775 yards and five touchdowns for the Thunderhawks.

But Kennedy-Palmore wanted to play Division I football and walked on at UC.

"Chomada definitely led by example by how hard he worked. His teammates definitely thought highly of him," Haynes said.

Kennedy-Palmore's death comes a little more than a year after the Sept. 21, 2013, crash that killed UC offensive lineman Ben Flick.

Flick, 19, a Hamilton High School graduate, was in a car that flipped over and went off a hilly, rural road in Butler County. That crash also badly injured two of his UC football teammates, and killed a Hamilton High graduate who was attending Miami University.

UC officials said the game against Ohio State University Saturday will still be played.

Reporters Nick Hurm, Mike Dyer, Henry Molski and Tom Groeschen contributed.