A Southern Methodist University football player has been suspended from the team after the school identified him as one of two people charged in connection with a high-speed hit-and-run crash in Dallas last month, the university said. confirmed on Thursday.
Dallas police said Wednesday that SMU cornerback Theodore “Teddy” Knox and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lachie Rice were involved in a collision between two luxury sports cars on March 30. The driver was suspected. At least four people were injured and six vehicles were damaged.
Police said Knox, 21, and Rice, 23, were each charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision with serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision with bodily injury.
“SMU takes these allegations seriously,” university officials said in a written statement sent to the university. dallas morning newsadded that federal student privacy laws prevent the school from providing details about student disciplinary proceedings.
This was announced by Dallas-based attorney Deandra Grant. dallas morning news She will represent Knox on Thursday.
“We have cooperated fully with law enforcement,” Grant said in an email. “Other than that, we have no further comment at this time.”
As of 7 p.m. Thursday, Knox and Rice were still in custody, police said.
Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Christine Lowman said the drivers of a Chevrolet Corvette and a Lamborghini Urus were in the 6600 block of North Central Expressway between Lovers Lane and University Boulevard around 6:20 p.m. and each said they lost control. The Lamborghini ran onto the shoulder of the road and “collided with the median, causing a chain reaction involving four other vehicles.”
Obtained footage news It shows the Corvette and Lamborghini attempting to pass a car in the left lane, then colliding with a white sedan and colliding with multiple cars in multiple lanes. Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), said at a news conference last week that the former Richland High School and SMU star told police he was driving a Lamborghini.
After the crash, Rice and four other men were seen on video leaving the scene. Police said the men did not stop to check if anyone needed medical treatment or to provide information.
Police said the passengers will not be charged.
According to Texas law, a motorist involved in a collision that causes or is “reasonably likely” to result in bodily injury must stop at or near the scene of the crash, or return to the scene of the crash to ensure that no one is involved. or whether rescue is required. They must also remain near the crash site until information and assistance is provided.
Drivers who fail to obey the law can face up to five years in prison or one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The law states that if a crash results in serious injury, the crime is a third-degree felony, and if the crash results in death, it is a second-degree felony.
Toby Shook, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, said it is not uncommon for people to be charged with serious bodily injury if they leave the scene of an accident that causes injury, serious injury or death without leaving behind any identification. Ta. The count reflects the number of vehicles involved in the collision.
“I've accused clients of doing that, and sometimes the accident wasn't their fault, but you can hit someone,” said Schook, who is not involved in the Rice or Knox cases. There is,” he said.
The most serious of the charges, aggravated assault, is less common, Shuk said. Aggravated assault charges are more common in situations where someone intentionally attacks another person or threatens them with a weapon, he said. But Shuk said he could also be charged with “reckless intent.”
Lawyers said at least three of the crash victims have lawyers.
Rice and Knox were teammates when they played at SMU in 2022.
Knox is a redshirt sophomore. He is a native of Louisiana, but spent his last two seasons of high school football playing in The Woodlands near Houston.
Knox spent his freshman season at Mississippi State in 2021 as a three-star wide receiver recruit coming out of high school. He appeared in three games before redshirting. He transferred to SMU before the 2022 season.
Knox appeared in 23 games with the Mustangs over the next two seasons, primarily playing on special teams, where he made four tackles.
Rice attended SMU from 2019 to 2022 and became one of the best wide receivers in program history. He was drafted by the Chiefs in 2023 and won a Super Bowl title with the team in February.
Staff writer Zaeem Shaikh and digital sports producer RJ Coyle contributed to this report.
