Trying To Understand The Illini Car Crash

Now that Illini center Brian Carlwell's condition after Monday's accident in a car driven by teammate Jamar Smith has been upgraded to "fair," we think it's probably OK to look at some of the more bizarre aspects to the crash.

Actually, there's just one: The fact that Smith drove back to his apartment after the crash.

Smith was charged with improper lane usage and a university spokesman said an investigation into the incident was ongoing and additional charges were possible. WCIA television in Champaign interviewed a witness who said police were called after Smith's badly damaged car was seen at his apartment complex in Savoy shortly after the time of the accident. The witness said police and rescue personnel arrived at the apartment complex and found Carlwell still inside the vehicle.

That's right: After the car smashed into the tree, Smith went ahead and drove home. Now, we understand that Smith had a concussion himself, but, jeez, take a look at this car.

So, if this is to be understood, after THAT happened to his car, Smith drove back to his apartment and went inside. A neighbor of his then saw the car and called the police, and when they arrived, Carlwell was still in there. It took them 20-plus minutes to get him out.

That must have been some kind of concussion, Jamar.

Carlwell Upgraded: More Charges Possible [Mark Tupper Weblog] Inside The Awful Illini Car Accident [Deadspin]

(Car photo via MarkDeming.com]