Inside The Awful Illini Car Accident

As most of you have heard by now, two Illinois basketball players — center Brian Carlwell and shooting guard Jamar Smith — were injured in a car accident last night in Champaign. Smith suffered a concussion, but Carlwell is currently listed in critical condition at Carle Foundation Hospital, a hospital we have actually spent two nights in ourselves.

We talked to our father this morning — in Mattoon, about an hour south of Champaign — and he said the area is being pummeled by a blizzard (they've even canceled classes today) and that the roads are "nearly impassable." Police have not yet said that's what caused the accident, but a man named Mark Deming in Champaign has posted several shots of the demolished car after the accident, and they make it clear that not only are conditions truly wretched ... but we also should be keeping as many good thoughts for Carlwell (the passenger in the car) as possible. Because the photos make it look like a wreck most nasty.

Our thoughts and hopes are with Carlwell and his family.

Carlwell/Smith Accident Photos [MarkDeming.com] Illini Players Carlwell, Smith Injured In Car Accident [Champaign News-Gazette]

(UPDATE: Carlwell has been upgraded to serious condition.)