Posted at 1:38 p.m., Sunday, June 10, 2007
Nuggets G J.R. Smith remains hospitalized after crash
Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith remained hospitalized today after being thrown from his vehicle during a crash last night, but his injuries aren't believed to be as serious as first thought."J.R. is fine. There is nothing career- or life-threatening," Nuggets spokesman Eric Sebastian said today. "I did not hear anything that would suggest he is going to be out any games. He is more concerned about the other people in the accident."
Smith and a passenger, Andre Bell, 21, of East Orange, were seriously injured yesterday when the sport utility vehicle Smith was driving went through a stop sign and overturned after colliding with a car at about 5:30 p.m. in Millstone Township, state police said.
Carroll Marshall, 23, another passenger in the SUV, and Lynn Sinatra, 49, of Millstone, who was driving the car, sustained minor injuries. They were taken to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, where they were treated and later released.
Both Smith and Bell were ejected from the vehicle, said Lt. Brian McPherson, commander of the state police's Hamilton barracks. Bell — who sustained life-threatening head injuries — was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, while Smith was taken there by ambulance.
Further details on their status and their injuries were not disclosed today.
Smith, 21, was a star player at Lakewood High School and St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey before being the 18th overall pick of New Orleans in the 2004 NBA draft. He averaged 13.0 points in 63 games for Denver this past season.
