Illini Basketball player hurt in Car Crash

[ryno4ever]

Illini players hurt in crash By Neil Milbert Tribune staff reporter February 13, 2007, 11:27 AM CST Illinois freshman center Brian Carlwell is listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Urbana's Carle Foundation Hospital with a severe concussion after a car driven by sophomore guard Jamar Smith crashed into a tree late Monday night. Smith, who also sustained a concussion, was treated and released. University of Illinois police are investigating the one-car accident that happened between 11:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. According to Kent Brown, Illinois' assistant athletics director for media relations, Smith was traveling north on First Street, which runs west of Assembly Hall, when his car crossed the center line and struck a tree on the west side of the street. "It had been snowing," Brown said. "There was some snow on the ground. The roads were slick and icy." Coach Bruce Weber and trainer Al Martindale went to the hospital after being notified of the accident and spent the night with Carlwell. A Tribune All-State first team selection last season when he played at Proviso East, Carlwell was averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds this season, while alternating with Marcus Arnold as a backup for starting center Shaun Pruitt. Smith, a former Peoria Richwoods star who led the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage last season, is averaging 8.1 points-per-game but has been in a shooting slump during most of the conference season after sustaining severe sprains to both ankles. "I don't know if coach has put much thought in when and if they can return," Brown said. "That's to be determined. The first concern is the health of the two student athletes, especially Brian, since he's in intensive care." This is the bye week in the Illini's schedule and, ironically, Weber was hoping the respite would be beneficial to his injury-ravaged team which plays its next game Sunday in Assembly Hall against Northwestern. "Now we'll give them a couple days rest and then see if we can get better in practice," he said after Saturday's loss at Indiana. "This is going to be the first time since the before season started that everybody will be able to practice together."

Wow! How sad. The roads were dangerous last night! I work about 20 miles from home and it took me an hour and a half to get home last night because of the blowing snow, and it hadn't even started to snow yet! I live a couple of hours from Bloomington, so I don't know if it was as bad down that way, but I can understand how the road conditions may have played a part in the wreck.

[DLee25]

Originally Posted by ryno4ever Wow! How sad. The roads were dangerous last night! I work about 20 miles from home and it took me an hour and a half to get home last night because of the blowing snow, and it hadn't even started to snow yet! I live a couple of hours from Bloomington, so I don't know if it was as bad down that way, but I can understand how the road conditions may have played a part in the wreck.

Yeah, thats too bad. Hopefully both recover okay.

Snow day here in eastern Iowa, roads are horrible. I am home alone, and I didnt feel like cooking so I went to the nearest gas station and picked up some food. Took me almost a half hour, and it would take me about 10 minutes on a normal day. I live on a paved road out in the country, and its blowing bad, causing basically a big sheet of ice. I hope everyone is smart about travelling, which most won't be!

[ryno4ever]

Originally Posted by DLee25 Yeah, thats too bad. Hopefully both recover okay. Snow day here in eastern Iowa, roads are horrible. I am home alone, and I didnt feel like cooking so I went to the nearest gas station and picked up some food. Took me almost a half hour, and it would take me about 10 minutes on a normal day. I live on a paved road out in the country, and its blowing bad, causing basically a big sheet of ice. I hope everyone is smart about travelling, which most won't be!

I called my boss today and told him there was not a snowball's chance in hell I was going to try to come to work today, .... I told him my experience of trying to drive home last night!

[DLee25]

Well if the roads are bad, I wouldn't either. I can't believe my parents went.

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Yeah the weather is the same here in Ohio. As of yesterday we were suppose to get 4-7 inches of snow on top of the 2 inches we already had. Today that has been changed, now we are looking at 10-14 inches. Looks like I may be snowed in for a few days so everyone better get there game face on for the arcade!!!

[DLee25]

Originally Posted by Sheffield_&_Waveland Yeah the weather is the same here in Ohio. As of yesterday we were suppose to get 4-7 inches of snow on top of the 2 inches we already had. Today that has been changed, now we are looking at 10-14 inches. Looks like I may be snowed in for a few days so everyone better get there game face on for the arcade!!!

Haha, I don't know how much we have got here. We had over 8 inches i would say before this.