Co-Defendant in Rashee Rice Crash Case Ordered to Pay Nearly $3 Million
A Texas judge has issued a substantial financial penalty against Theodore Knox, the co-defendant in a lawsuit involving Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice. Judge Kim Bailey Phipps ordered Knox to pay almost $3 million in damages for his role in a high-speed street racing incident that caused a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas during March 2024.
Judge Finds Gross Negligence in Six-Vehicle Collision
Judge Phipps determined that Knox displayed "gross negligence" when he lost control of his vehicle while racing Rice on a central Dallas highway. The dangerous competition between the two former Southern Methodist University teammates resulted in a serious collision involving six vehicles. The default judgement of approximately $2.88 million will be awarded to Kathryn Kuykendall, one of the victims injured in the crash.
The substantial settlement includes punitive damages along with compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and non-economic damages. According to ESPN reports, Knox did not appear at the hearing, and no attorney was listed for him in official court records. Rice's separate case is scheduled to proceed to trial on June 9.
Previous Legal Consequences for Both Defendants
Both Rice and Knox have already faced significant legal consequences for their actions during the March 2024 incident. In July of last year, Rice received a 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation for his involvement in the multicar crash. The Chiefs star was additionally ordered to pay $115,482 to victims to cover medical costs after pleading guilty to two third-degree felony charges:
- Collision involving serious bodily injury
- Racing on a highway causing bodily injury
Knox received identical criminal penalties of 30 days in jail and five years probation. The NFL suspended Rice for six games over the incident, with that suspension concluding in October. Southern Methodist University suspended Knox from their football program following the crash.
Multiple Lawsuits Stemming from the Crash
The legal fallout from the Dallas street racing incident has been extensive. Prior to Kuykendall's successful lawsuit, Rice faced three separate legal actions totaling more than $10 million in claims. Knox had already received two other default judgements exceeding $3 million before this latest ruling. Surveillance footage captured Rice fleeing the scene immediately after the collision, though he later returned to cooperate with authorities.
Separate Domestic Violence Allegations Against Rice
Earlier this year, Rice became the subject of a separate NFL investigation following domestic violence allegations made by his ex-girlfriend, Dacoda Jones. Jones, who shares two children with the football star, filed a lawsuit in February accusing Rice of repeated physical assaults throughout their relationship, including incidents during her pregnancies.
The complaint detailed specific allegations of choking, strangling, pushing, throwing, scratching, hitting, and headbutting. Jones claimed Rice strangled her at their Texas home in December 2023 during what she described as "an escalation in violent behavior." The alleged abuse reportedly continued until their separation in July 2025.
NFL Investigation Concludes Without Disciplinary Action
The NFL recently concluded its investigation into the domestic violence allegations against Rice, determining that the wide receiver "has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy." The league announced it would not impose any disciplinary measures against Rice at this time, effectively closing the investigation.
Rice's attorney, Sean Lindsey, released a statement expressing gratitude for the thorough investigation and noting Rice's anticipation for the 2026-27 NFL season. The legal resolution comes despite Jones's detailed allegations and her social media posts showing injuries and property damage she attributed to Rice's behavior.
Jones had previously shared 14 photographs on Instagram displaying cuts, bruises, and damaged property, accompanied by a lengthy statement describing years of alleged abuse. While she didn't specifically name Rice in the post, it was widely interpreted as referring to the football star.
