Former Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died in 2009 incident
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 8:30 AM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died on Dec. 17, 2009, following a domestic incident in Charlotte. Henry was 26 years old at the time of his death. Police reported that Henry sustained fatal blunt force trauma to the head after falling from the back of a moving pickup truck driven by his fiancée, Loleini Tonga. While authorities found no evidence that Tonga drove recklessly or that Henry was intoxicated, statements regarding the exact circumstances of his exit from the vehicle differed. Henry, who played collegiate football at West Virginia, was in his fifth NFL season with the Bengals when the accident occurred. His son, Chris Henry Jr., is currently a wide receiver for Ohio State.
- •Chris Henry died at age 26 on Dec. 17, 2009.
- •The receiver sustained fatal head injuries after falling from a moving truck.
- •Police filed no charges against his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, following the investigation.
- •Henry played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2005 through 2009.
- 8:30 AMYahoo Sports — Chris Henry's death, explained: What to know about 2009 accident that killed NFL receiver
"Here's what to know about the former West Virginia and Bengals wide receiver's death in 2009.
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