Oregon Police Don’t Plan to Review NFL Player’s Crash

December 8, 2011

Portland, Ore., police have no plans to further investigate a car accident involving Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh after two women claimed they suffered injuries in the wreck.

The two women, who were not identified in a police report, came forward a day after the early Saturday morning accident to say they had been injured. The police report was amended to include the claims.

Suh, who went to Grant High School in Portland and later played for Nebraska, is currently serving a two-game NFL-imposed suspension for stomping on Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith during a Thanksgiving Day game. He is not allowed to take part in team activities while on suspension.

Suh had returned from the Pac-12 championship game in Eugene on Friday night when the accident occurred at 1:14 a.m. on Saturday. In the police report, Suh said that when he tried to go around a parked taxi, he lost control of his 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle and crashed into a light pole, a water fountain and a tree.

Suh called 911 to report the accident and police at the scene said he was cooperative and did not appear to be intoxicated or show any other sign of impairment. No one at the scene reported any injuries in the crash, which drew a large number of spectators from a nearby nightclub.

No citation was issued in the accident.

The two women, who say they were among four people in the car, said they left the scene because of the crowd it was attracting. The husband of one of the women picked the two up, the report states.

The man took his wife to the hospital to be treated for a laceration on her forehead, a black eye, a “busted lip” and a sore shoulder, according to the police report. The other passenger did not seek treatment for a sore shoulder until the next morning, it said.

Both passengers told police that Suh was going “too fast” and was “reckless.”

The more seriously injured of the two said she had told Suh at the scene that she was hurt and needed a doctor, the police report said. In the 911 call, Suh said there were no injuries.

The report states that the officer who arrived on the scene two minutes after the 911 call did not observe any victims in the area. Two other officers who arrived shortly thereafter also did not see anyone who required medical attention, and no witnesses reported any victims or said that Suh was driving recklessly.

The women spoke to KGW-TV in Portland and recounted their version of the events, although they asked that their identities be withheld for privacy reasons. The more seriously injured woman showed KGW the stitches above her eyebrow and her swollen lips.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the two women for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Suh has not responded to repeated requests for interviews about his suspension and the accident.

Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said that because the crash did not involve an intoxicated driver, traumatic injuries or vulnerable road users, it does not meet the department’s investigation criteria.

The 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Suh has three sacks this season among five tackles for losses. He has been credited with 31 tackles and eight quarterback hits.

When Suh played at Nebraska he pleaded guilty to negligent driving and paid a $60 fine after crashing into three parked cars.

Suh, driving his mother’s SUV, said he had swerved to avoid a cat. He also paid $48 in court costs and was disciplined by Huskers coach Bo Pelini.

He was drafted by the Lions with the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Suh has endorsement deals with Chrysler, Subway and Nike, among other companies.

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