Gavilan Basketball Player Hurt in Car Accident
Police still investigating cause of near-fatal car accident near Gilroy.
A serious car accident has left a Gavilan College basketball player hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The accident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, sent three members of the Gavilan College basketball team and two female companions to the hospital to receive treatment for their injuries.
The driver, 22-year-old Billy Heard, sustained a broken jaw. The two female passengers suffered only minor injuries. Another teammate and passenger, Devontea Johnson, is being treated at Stanford Medical Center for a compound fracture to his leg.
The most serious injuries were incurred by 19-year-old Andrel Gaines, who suffered major head trauma. He remains hospitalized in grave condition and is currently breathing through the aid of a ventilator. On Monday, Gaines' condition worsened, leaving doctors doubtful about the possibility of recovery.
According to police reports, the group had left a night club in San Francisco and was heading southbound on U.S. 101 when the accident occurred. Heard, who was driving a black Cadillac, apparently swerved to avoid a tire in the road. He then hit a median and spun out, causing the vehicle to come to a stop in the road facing the wrong direction. Heard then stepped out of the car to assess the damage. After he exited the vehicle, a red Nissan 300ZX slammed head-on into the vehicle. The driver of that car, San Jose resident Dennis Leffew, sustained major injuries and is also being treated at Stanford Medical Center.
Police initially arrested Heard on suspicion of DUI before releasing him to seek medical treatment. Leffew was also arrested on the same charge. A police investigation into what caused the accident is continuing. According to a California Highway Patrol representative, both Heard and Leffew could be charged with felony DUI if Gaines' injuries prove to be fatal. Heard could also face charges if the other driver, Leffew, does not recover from his injuries.
This tragic case is a chilling reminder that a car accident can happen to anyone and at any time. While police are working hard to determine who is responsible for the accident, the victims, if they survive, are potentially facing long-term hospitalization, extensive surgeries and physical therapy in order to achieve a full recovery. Their families may be burdened with substantial medical bills, transportation costs and lost wages. Should one or both of the victims die, the family will also need to pay for funeral expenses. In addition to the physical and emotional trauma of the accident, the victims and their families may also face financial devastation as well. Hopefully, they will enlist the aid of a San Francisco car accident attorney to protect their rights.
If you or someone you love has experienced the pain of a car accident, you can't afford to wait another minute to speak with a California car accident attorney. Our expert team of personal injury lawyers is here to help car accident victims like you get the compensation they're entitled to.
Contact us today at 1-800-722-0765 for your free initial case evaluation. We charge no fee unless we recover a money judgment on your behalf. Don't hesitate, call us today to see how we can help with your California car accident case.
