Mark Haddad Fatally Injured in Car Crash
- Thread starter JAM
- Start date
My other half, Keith McCready, has been speaking with Mark's son (Mark Jr.), the day it happened and yesterday. Mark Jr. is in the hospital and needs surgery on his neck. He is wearing a long neck brace. A local friend of theirs named "Death-Ball" [phonetic] has been by his side, giving him support.
Apparently, Mark Haddad had been on the road shooting pool for about four or five months and sending money back home if he scores in tournaments and/or challenge matches. His son, Mark Jr., joined him on the road a few weeks ago.
Mark and Keith are good friends and used to talk on an almost daily basis about everything under the sun, sports especially. They both are avid horseracing fans, and pool, of course, has been their life-long passion. When I first met Mark, he and Melissa were just starting their relationship, about 20 years ago at a Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge. You could see how smitten she was with him and him with her.
Mark has always been a man of strong faith, and sometimes he would ask Keith to pray to their higher power while on the phone together. I hope faith helps Melissa get through this because she's very fragile and in a bad way right now.
This is a photo I took Mark, Melissa, and Keith, in 2006 at a Denver pool hall.
Apparently, Mark Haddad had been on the road shooting pool for about four or five months and sending money back home if he scores in tournaments and/or challenge matches. His son, Mark Jr., joined him on the road a few weeks ago.
Mark and Keith are good friends and used to talk on an almost daily basis about everything under the sun, sports especially. They both are avid horseracing fans, and pool, of course, has been their life-long passion. When I first met Mark, he and Melissa were just starting their relationship, about 20 years ago at a Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge. You could see how smitten she was with him and him with her.
Mark has always been a man of strong faith, and sometimes he would ask Keith to pray to their higher power while on the phone together. I hope faith helps Melissa get through this because she's very fragile and in a bad way right now.
This is a photo I took Mark, Melissa, and Keith, in 2006 at a Denver pool hall.
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Here is the article in the Gordon Gazette about the crash:
UPDATE (10:45 A.M. SATURDAY, JULY 13): The Georgia State Patrol has released their preliminary findings on a fatal Friday night wreck on I-75.
According to the GSP, on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 6:56 p.m., Troopers responded to I-75 SB MM 322 in reference to a single vehicle crash. The investigation determined that a green Ford Explorer was traveling northbound on I-75 in the left lane of travel when the right rear tire of the Explorer experienced a blowout, causing the driver to lose control. The Explorer traveled into the center grass median, rotated clockwise, and struck the guardrail. The vehicle then overturned, crossing into the southbound lanes of travel. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle came to final rest on its passenger side in the center lane of I-75 southbound. The Gordon County Coroner pronounced the passenger deceased on scene. The southbound lanes of I-75 were shut down for approximately an hour while traffic was diverted around the crash using the right emergency lane.
UPDATE (8:40 P.M.) - ONE FATALITY IN FRIDAY EVENING I-75 WRECK: The Gordon Gazette has learned that a single-vehicle rollover accident on I-75 earlier this evening has resulted in one fatality.
According to Gordon County Deputy Coroner Jonathan Pressley, a Ford Explorer with out-of-state tags was traveling in the Northbound lane of I-75 when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The Ford traveled through the guardrail and across the median of I-75, flipping as it eventually came to a stop in the center lane of I-75 South around the 323.
The passenger of the Ford was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported by ground ambulance to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton with what is believed to be non life-threatening injuries.
It is believed that both men in the vehicle were from out of state. Identities are being held pending notification of next-of-kin.
ORIGINAL TRAFFIC ALERT - I75 LANES BLOCKED: Crash on Interstate 75 Southbound near 323. All lanes blocked. First responders on scene. Rollover involved. Unknown injuries. Seek alternate route.
UPDATE (10:45 A.M. SATURDAY, JULY 13): The Georgia State Patrol has released their preliminary findings on a fatal Friday night wreck on I-75.
According to the GSP, on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 6:56 p.m., Troopers responded to I-75 SB MM 322 in reference to a single vehicle crash. The investigation determined that a green Ford Explorer was traveling northbound on I-75 in the left lane of travel when the right rear tire of the Explorer experienced a blowout, causing the driver to lose control. The Explorer traveled into the center grass median, rotated clockwise, and struck the guardrail. The vehicle then overturned, crossing into the southbound lanes of travel. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle came to final rest on its passenger side in the center lane of I-75 southbound. The Gordon County Coroner pronounced the passenger deceased on scene. The southbound lanes of I-75 were shut down for approximately an hour while traffic was diverted around the crash using the right emergency lane.
UPDATE (8:40 P.M.) - ONE FATALITY IN FRIDAY EVENING I-75 WRECK: The Gordon Gazette has learned that a single-vehicle rollover accident on I-75 earlier this evening has resulted in one fatality.
According to Gordon County Deputy Coroner Jonathan Pressley, a Ford Explorer with out-of-state tags was traveling in the Northbound lane of I-75 when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The Ford traveled through the guardrail and across the median of I-75, flipping as it eventually came to a stop in the center lane of I-75 South around the 323.
The passenger of the Ford was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was transported by ground ambulance to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton with what is believed to be non life-threatening injuries.
It is believed that both men in the vehicle were from out of state. Identities are being held pending notification of next-of-kin.
ORIGINAL TRAFFIC ALERT - I75 LANES BLOCKED: Crash on Interstate 75 Southbound near 323. All lanes blocked. First responders on scene. Rollover involved. Unknown injuries. Seek alternate route.
JAM…….for some reason, the link doesn’t go thru. It connects you, you can fill out the donation but the server just sits chugging and chugging but the entry doesn’t complete……I waited 90 seconds and it was still chugging. As a group, the Az community should be able to easily exceed the $15k goal. And we should……Melissa and Mark, Jr. will have other financial pressures resulting from this tragedy. I hope as a community we raise $50k. I beseech every reader to try donating because the day could arrive where this situation happens to you or me. But it hasn’t and we can still earn money so please invest a little of your work sweat to do a noble thing by bringing Mark home to his final destination.
My gosh, where is our humanity if this doesn’t motivate some of us to offer more than thoughts and prayers like some politician might utter before the press after a mass shooting, what does. I never met Mark. I didn’t even know his name until this happened. It’s no skin off my nose, right? I didn’t know the guy. But I have a heart, soul, I believe in God, I am a parent, I’m not wealthy or well off but I understand human pain and suffering. I’ve lost loved ones but never like this. This was the outright theft of a life which is the worse thing imaginable. So I am glad it wasn’t me but sad it even happened.
So this is my pitch……this upcoming week, take all the spare change in your pocket and put it in a jar every day. At the end of the week, add just $1.00 more and donate all of spare change money to Mark’s Go Fund Campaign. Can you do that?
Just take the time to reflect on how awful it is to want to bring him to his final resting place and not have the funds to do it right now…..this week. A fellow many of us never met has fallen and you will piss away more money this week never giving it a 2nd thought than a small donation would cost. You tip servers at restaurants, well, then tip the scales of compassion for a family that is suffering their greatest loss……a husband, a father and a friend.
Thanks for reading and hopefully caring.
Matt Brennan
My gosh, where is our humanity if this doesn’t motivate some of us to offer more than thoughts and prayers like some politician might utter before the press after a mass shooting, what does. I never met Mark. I didn’t even know his name until this happened. It’s no skin off my nose, right? I didn’t know the guy. But I have a heart, soul, I believe in God, I am a parent, I’m not wealthy or well off but I understand human pain and suffering. I’ve lost loved ones but never like this. This was the outright theft of a life which is the worse thing imaginable. So I am glad it wasn’t me but sad it even happened.
So this is my pitch……this upcoming week, take all the spare change in your pocket and put it in a jar every day. At the end of the week, add just $1.00 more and donate all of spare change money to Mark’s Go Fund Campaign. Can you do that?
Just take the time to reflect on how awful it is to want to bring him to his final resting place and not have the funds to do it right now…..this week. A fellow many of us never met has fallen and you will piss away more money this week never giving it a 2nd thought than a small donation would cost. You tip servers at restaurants, well, then tip the scales of compassion for a family that is suffering their greatest loss……a husband, a father and a friend.
Thanks for reading and hopefully caring.
Matt Brennan
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Mark was a very good friend, he got me out of a jam one night in Chinos in Oakland. He saved my ass. He never forgot about that night. He recalled 20 years later like it was yesterday. Of course I never forgot what he did for me. We sometimes would tell the story together at the Derby.
Funny how life works about 2-3 months ago ones thinking of Mark, and then this tragity(I can’t spell) happens and he’s gone. We were never the best at keeping in touch. But when we did cross paths we would always talk about that one night.
It’s like he was my big brother after that. When I was in action a few times(not $100 pool, big action) he gave me good advice, he looked out for me. Never asked for 10¢. He’s intentions were to be a good person, not a bite like 99% if other people might do. Mark was pure, honest and did the right thing. In our world that’s a short list.
I’ll miss him, and ofc I’m doing something for his family, Mark was a great player, gambler, and even better friend
.
This is not a post I ever wanted to make.
RIP
Fatboy
Funny how life works about 2-3 months ago ones thinking of Mark, and then this tragity(I can’t spell) happens and he’s gone. We were never the best at keeping in touch. But when we did cross paths we would always talk about that one night.
It’s like he was my big brother after that. When I was in action a few times(not $100 pool, big action) he gave me good advice, he looked out for me. Never asked for 10¢. He’s intentions were to be a good person, not a bite like 99% if other people might do. Mark was pure, honest and did the right thing. In our world that’s a short list.
I’ll miss him, and ofc I’m doing something for his family, Mark was a great player, gambler, and even better friend
. This is not a post I ever wanted to make.
RIP
Fatboy
My heart bleeds today. Growing up in Denver and playing often at Felt, Mark and I would play for hours on end for no money at all. Just for the love of the game and he would also show me a tip or two with respect to my safety game. A great guy. A great friend. In a pool room environment where conversations about God are few and far between, Mark and I would discuss what it really meant to be a Christian and how actions spoke louder than words. I am so sad to hear about the loss of such a talent, such a personality and such a good friend. Condolences to the entire family, his friends, and especially to his loving wife Melissa. I think right now, he's with the Lord, playing on the best Gold Crown he's ever seen.
I did not know Mark well but I had a couple of short conversations with him at Felt.
Real nice guy gone too soon. RIP.
Real nice guy gone too soon. RIP.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Okay. I'll bite. Who is Melissa and what is the basis of her claim of authority?
Melissa Little is a WPBA player and was Mark's longtime partner
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
May be lessons here for everyone. Around here, partners have no status without more.
Sadly, Mark's children are suffering right now. The family had a wake last night in Sacramento. He was supposed to be buried today.
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Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Not quite right. Varies from state to state. In some states, holding yourselves out as H & W with the intent to be H & W will get you hitched.
And get this: Miss has no CL marriage, but say my girl and I move to X state and satisfy X state's CL marriage requirements and then move back to Miss, Miss will recognize the CL marriage from X. Miss will even divorce us if we want.
I have run into heartbreaking situations involving death and the folks left behind, especially in non-traditional families. I know everyone hates them, but lawyers can solve many problems before they can start.
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Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
And . . . having gotten that out of the way, I am sorry that everyone is having such a difficult time. Take a deep breath and find the love you all have for Mark. No disrespect to anyone, but settle your differences with a flip of a coin.
Being right and getting your way or doing what Mark might have wanted is not the point. My bet is that he would want everyone to find a way to get along.
Being right and getting your way or doing what Mark might have wanted is not the point. My bet is that he would want everyone to find a way to get along.