Panthers linebacker involved in head-on crash with former Duke QB
CHARLOTTE -- Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson was cited with driving left of the center line in an early Sunday morning collision that left former Duke quarterback Anthony Boone in a Charlotte hospital.
Thompson was not injured. Boone was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. According North Carolina Trooper John Burgin, alcohol was in Thompson's system but it was determined in a road side test that Thompson was below the legal limit. Thompson was not taken in for further testing.
Burgin said Thompson stated he dropped his cell phone and was reaching down to get it when he crossed the center line as the two approached from opposite directions on Potter Road in Weddington, N.C.
Burgin said both drivers swerved and collided. He said Boone was not wearing a seat belt and, from his understanding, suffered a broken pelvis and several broken ribs.
Thompson, the 25th pick of the 2015 draft, and Boone both live in the Weddington area but did not know each other. Panthers spokesperson Steven Drummond said Thompson notified the team of the accident and the team is aware alcohol was in the player's system.
Thompson is expected to participate in Phase 3 of Carolina's offseason workouts when they begin on Tuesday.
"We are in the process of gathering more information," Drummond said.
Boone signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2015 but released before training camp. He spent some time with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
