Motorcyclist killed in Penn Township crash was former Jeannette sports standout

A former three-sport standout at Jeannette High School was killed Sunday night in a motorcycle crash.

Tre Cunningham, 20, was driving a Honda CBR 1000 east on Route 130 in Penn Township around 8:30 p.m. and attempted to overtake a BMW SUV in a no passing zone, said Penn Township police Chief John Otto. The SUV driver made a left turn onto Long Drive and the two collided. Cunningham was pronounced dead at the scene.

As a Jeannette Jayhawk, Cunningham excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from high school in 2018 and was named the Tribune-Review’s Westmoreland Boys Athlete of the Year.

During his senior football season, Cunningham helped the Jayhawks win WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles and become the WPIAL’s all-time wins leader. He was a member of the school’s WPIAL Class A baseball champion team.

Cunningham was named the Tribune-Review’s basketball and baseball player of the year in 2018.

Jeannette coaches said Cunningham played an integral role in the Jayhawks’ two WPIAL titles and the state championship. His high school coaches on Monday mourned the loss of an intelligent leader who they said had an infectious smile. They all agreed that his death was like losing their son.

Basketball Coach Adrian Batts recalled a game against Serra Catholic — Cunningham had the flu but still scored 18 points in the first half to carry the team to a win and section title.

“We lost a great one in the community of Jeannette,” Batts said. “He was a better person than an athlete and he was a great athlete. He was really polite, cheerful and always smiled.”

Football Coach Roy Hall said not only was Cunningham great at sports, but he was an honor roll student. On the football team, he was punter, kicker, wide receiver and linebacker.

“My heart goes out to his family and to the community,” he said. “This is tragic. A bad, bad dream. We lost a great student-athlete and a super young man.”

The Jayhawk community suffered a devastating loss. Such a great young man was taken way to soon. Incredible athlete and a even better person. #6 forever! @Jhawkathletics pic.twitter.com/WnptwPXUve

— Trevor Petrillo (@CoachTPetrillo) July 27, 2020

Cunningham previously told the Tribune-Review that baseball was his passion. He was on the baseball team at La Roche University. Seth Howard, a high school teammate in all three sports, said he will miss Cunningham.

“I’ll remember just all the fun memories we had playing ball together,” Howard said. “He was such a talented and gifted kid.”

High school baseball Coach Marcus Clarkson recalled Cunningham as a great kid who worked hard.

“I feel bad for his family, they lost a great son,” Clarkson said. “He represented everything good about Jeannette.”

Every parents worst nightmare is getting that phone call in the middle of the night. You were so talented, charasmatic, and athletic. The entire Jayhawks community is devestated forever. We will be praying for your mom and dad. REST EASY #6 pic.twitter.com/PgmGOTgx0g

— Ryan Reitz (@CoachReitz) July 27, 2020

Cunningham was known for being humble.

He once said, “I’m not selfish. As long as we win, even if I don’t have a great game, it’s fine. Everyone will be dancing around in the locker room before games, but I don’t get too hyped. I just go out and play and let my game do the talking.”

Cunningham came from an athletic family. His mother was a track star at Jeannette and his father and uncles on both sides of his family played football and were multi-sport athletes.

The La Roche community mourns the loss of a great student-athlete and an even better person, Tre Cunningham. Tre was a pitcher for the baseball team and played two seasons with the Redhawks. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/T5cbKjQTGc

— La Roche Redhawks (@LRUAthletics) July 27, 2020

The driver of the other vehicle stayed at the scene, Otto said. State police assisted township officers with reconstructing the crash. Firefighters helped with lighting and traffic control until about 2 a.m.

Mason-Gelder Funeral Home in Jeannette is handling arrangements. Cunningham’s death was the result of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, according to the Westmoreland County coroner.

It was the third fatal motorcycle crash in Westmoreland County this month.

A Fayette County man died after his motorcycle collided with a deer on Route 711 in Cook Township on July 1 and a Blairsville man was killed after losing control of his motorcycle on Pizza Barn Road in Derry Township Friday.