Metal Sludge Gossip Board

http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/18/junior-se ... f-a-cliff/



Junior Seau drove his SUV off a cliff in Carlsbad, CA this morning -- and survived -- this according to law enforcement.

We're told the retired NFL superstar sustained injuries in the wreck -- cops are on scene. TMZ obtained these photos of Seau's Cadillac Escalade which landed at the bottom of a cliff several feet from the beach.

Seau has been transported to a local hospital. The accident happened just south of Oceanside, CA where the former San Diego Charger had just been released from jail hours earlier.

As TMZ first reported, Seau was arrested early this morning for domestic violence.

More info and let me be the first to say......WTF???

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/report-se ... rest-29135

Following his release early Monday from a San Diego jail after being arrested on a charge of felony spousal assault with injury, Junior Seau later drove his SUV off a cliff today.



CBS 8 in San Diego reports of the crash:

Seau drove his vehicle off a cliff in Carlsbad. A witness told News 8 that he was seen driving about 70 miles per hour and made no attempt to brake or slow down.

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports the drop from the roadside cliff to the beach was approximately 30 feet.


San Diego 6 reports the SUV crash took place, “near Interstate 5 and Palomar Airport Road.”

On if drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain told the NORTH COUNTY TIMES, “At this point, it doesn’t appear that there was any of that involved.”

NBC San Diego on Seau’s condition after the crash:

At 8:42 a.m. Monday, Carlsbad police received a 911 call reporting a single vehicle accident. Inside a white Cadillac SUV, officers said they found one person in the car identified as Junior Seau.

The man in the SUV was transported to Scripps La Jolla.

KGTV in San Diego reports of Seau’s arrest and his current condition:

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau has been arrested on a charge of felony spousal assault with injury, according to Oceanside police.

Seau was arrested around midnight Sunday for the incident, which allegedly occurred against his live-in girlfriend.

After he was released from custody, Seau drove his Cadillac Escalade off a cliff in Carlsbad, Carlsbad police told 10News.


Additionally, a witness called 10News around 9:00 a.m. to report that she saw Seau drive a car off a cliff directly in front of her near Carlsbad Boulevard and Solamar Drive.

Seau was pulled out of the vehicle with only cuts and bruises and taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, police said.

The NC Times also has an account of a witness to Seau’s crash:

Carlsbad resident Murray “Moose” Lee said he witnessed the crash and was standing just north of where the SUV left the road in a spot where there is no guard rail. At 10:45 a.m., tracks were still visible in the sand leading to the cliff edge.

“It went whipping right by me,” he said. “It didn’t even look real.”

Lee said he watched from above as lifeguards removed Seau from the vehicle.

“I known Junior; I’ve met him many times and he always seemed like a nice guy,” Lee said. “I mean he’s Junior Seau —- he’s a town hero.”

The Oceanside Police Dept. released the following statement to the press regarding Seau’s arrest:

Junior Seau was arrested for the alleged assault of his … live-in girlfriend. The victim reportedly sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment. On October 17, 2010 at 10:13 p.m. police were dispatched to the Seau residence on South Strand in Oceanside to investigate the report of a domestic violence assault.

The 25-year-old victim reported that Junior Seau assaulted her during a verbal argument. Seau was not at the residence when police arrived.

Seau called the victim while police were on scene and spoke to the officers; he agreed to return to the home. Shortly after midnight Seau drove back to the scene and he was arrested without incident as he approached the residence.

I was shocked to here his name involved in this. These dudes that just retire from the game are fucking LOST without the roar of the crowd on Sundays.

He needed to find a cliff higher than 30 feet, preferably with rocks on the bottom instead of sand if he was gonna try to end it.

SAN DIEGO -- Former San Diego Charger Junior Seau is telling investigators that he fell asleep before driving his SUV off a cliff in Carlsbad, just hours after being released from jail in connection with a domestic violence case.

Carlsbad police say Seau's Cadillac SUV was found on the beach 30 feet below the roadside just before 9 a.m. Monday.

SEE PHOTOS OF THE WRECK

The 12-time Pro Bowler, was pulled from the vehicle by law enforcement officials and was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

Pick up your full color Orlando Magic Player Pages all this week in the Orlando Sentinel. Collect a different player page each day!

The accident occurred just five hours after Seau was released from jail Monday morning, according to San Diego sheriff's Lt. Phil Brust.

Helicopter video clearly showed tire marks left by the Escalade when it left the roadway and drove off the cliff.

The SUV, which was removed from the beach and placed on a flatbed tow truck, showed heavy front-end damage and damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.

Seau was arrested shortly after midnight after he allegedly assaulted his 25-year-old live-in girlfriend during an argument at the couple's Oceanside home, Lt. Leonard Mata said.

Gina Seau, the retired football player's ex-wife and mother of three of his children, told the San Diego Union Tribune that the two incidents were unrelated and reports that Seau had tried to hurt or kill himself were false.

She added that Seau had never tried to hurt or threaten her when they were married and that she didn't believe he had assaulted his girlfriend late Sunday night.

"He would never try to harm himself or anyone else," Gina Seau told the Union Tribune.

Officers did not observe any symptoms of drug or alcohol use, but they requested a blood sample be taken for testing, said Lt. Paul Mendes.

Investigators do not suspect that Seau was suicidal, Mendes said.

In an interview at the hospital, he told them that he was sleepy, the lieutenant said.

Police were dispatched to the Seau residence on South Strand in Oceanside around 10:30 Sunday night to investigate the report of a domestic violence assault.

The 25-year-old victim, Seau's live-in girlfriend, reported that the 41-year old assaulted her during a verbal argument.

Seau was not at the residence when police arrived.

He did however, call the victim while police were on scene and spoke to the officers; he agreed to return to the home.

Shortly after midnight Seau drove back to the scene and he was arrested without incident as he approached the residence.

Seau was booked into the Vista jail on felony charges of spousal assault at about 3 a.m.

He posted bail and was released from jail at about 5 a.m., police said.

Seau's girlfriend sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.

The fifth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, Seau spent 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, building a reputation as one of the most feared linebackers in the game.

His play with the Chargers earned him a roster spot on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

He also played for the New England Patriots from 2006 to 2009.

The former University of Southern California standout announced in January that he had played his final game, but has not yet officially retired from the NFL.