Former schoolboy basketball star dies in car crash

LOWELL, Mass. – The victim of a fatal car crash in Massachusetts is being remembered as the best basketball player ever to come out of his home town.

Prosecutors say 52-year-old Ramon “Chung” Rivera died Wednesday in Lowell when his SUV was struck from behind by another vehicle. He died at the scene.

Friends and former coaches tell The Sun of Lowell the father of three was the best basketball player the city has ever seen. He led Lowell High to two Eastern Massachusetts championships from 1981 until 1985 and scored 1,459 career points.

He played for a year at the University of Houston and then professionally in Puerto Rico. He more recently helped launch youth basketball programs and mentored young players.

The crash remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.

___

Information from: The (Lowell, Mass.) Sun, http://www.lowellsun.com