NBA star Gilbert Arenas' son, Alijah Arenas, was involved in a car crash on Thursday. Emergency Services reportedly placed him in a medically induced coma after the accident.
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According to a report by the Daily Mail, the incident occurred early in the morning, at around 4:55 AM. Emergency Services responded to reports of a 'trapped patient' at the Tesla Cybertruck wreck, although Arenas was reportedly out of the vehicle by the time they showed up. It's unclear how Arenas crashed or the events that led up to the incident, but TMZ reports his Cybertruck was 'completely mangled' on the side of the road. The outlet also explains that Arenas was placed in a coma due to smoke inhalation.
A report by NBCLA shows footage of the wreck. The bonnet of the Cybertruck is on fire, and the vehicle collided with a large tree. The Tesla also smashed into a fire hydrant, causing it to burst. The outlet interviewed Jose Prera, who lives nearby. "It was like a big explosion," Prera explains. "We felt it was like an airplane, but we woke up, and there was a lot of smoke outside."
The outlet explains that police have said an investigation is still in the early stages. However, authorities are looking into excessive speed as a potential cause. Alcohol is not thought to be involved.
Alijah Arenas Is Reportedly Out Of Coma
The Guardian reports that doctors have taken Arenas out of the medically induced coma, but he remains intubated in hospital. His family reportedly said he has "shown signs of significant progress." They also noted that Arenas asked if anyone else was hurt when he woke up.
The family reportedly published a quote from a passerby who helped rescue Alijah from the truck. "I remember hearing banging on the car window, but I couldn't see anything because the smoke was so thick. That's when I realized someone was inside. I tried to break the window, but it wouldn't give. Then I saw one of the windows was cracked just enough, and we used everything we had to bend it and pull him out. The car was on fire. We just knew we had to get him out."
Per the Daily Mail, Alijah has committed to play at USC next season. He also played in the McDonald's All-American Game on April 1.
