|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reportedly suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs, a severe concussion and facial injuries that required 40 stitches after a July 14 car accident in downtown Palo Alto.
The crash occurred at about 6:13 p.m. near the intersection of Alma Street and Hamilton Avenue, in downtown Palo Alto, Palo Alto police Lt. Nicolas Martinez told this publication. Responders from the Palo Alto Police and Fire departments came to the scene and transported one of the two drivers to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the collision.
“There is no impairment suspected and both drivers remained on scene and were cooperative with the police. No one was cited for the collision,” Martinez said.
ESPN was the first to report on the collision on Saturday.
Shanahan is reportedly one of several 49er executives and staff members who live in Los Altos, according to a report from SF Gate. The city is located just south of Palo Alto and the ESPN report relied on Palo Alto police for information.
The injuries, which included a severe concussion, were deemed not life-threatening and Shanahan was reportedly recovering at home, according to ESPN. After ESPN broke the news, the team released a statement acknowledging Shanahan’s accident. The team said he will “participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp while he recovers.”
“Coach Shanahan and the 49ers organization would like to sincerely thank all first responders involved for their efforts and care,” the 49ers statement reads. “Assistant Head Coach Chris Foerster along with team coordinators will handle head coach responsibilities during this period.”
Shanahan has been the 49ers head coach since 2017. He is leading a team that is trying to rebound from a year that was riddled with injuries as stars Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and George Kittle all missed significant time.
During a Saturday press conference, 49ers General Manager John Lynch said Shanahan is recovering from his injuries and is in “concussion protocol,” with his availability dictated by his condition and the team’s medical staff. Shanahan has been back in the building under a “phased back” approach but is not yet ready to talk to the media or to the team, Lynch said.
“Number one for Kyle and the Shanahan family is to get him back right,” Lynch said. “He’s a tremendous head coach but this is bigger than that. It’s about his well-being and we’re going to take the time necessary and I think we are well equipped to do that.”
The 49ers are set to kick off the regular season on Sept. 10, when they face the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League’s first ever game in Australia.
Lynch said Shanahan is “very eager” to be back on the field.
“He goes through a process like we all do to get ready for the season like we all do, like players do. … We see players go through a similair things and it’s no different when it’s our head coach.” Lynch said. “We’ll support him through that and I think it gives him great comfort to know, ‘We got your back, Kyle, until you’re ready.'”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available
