Charlotte Hornets Star LaMelo Ball Unharmed After City Centre Car Crash
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball emerged completely unscathed after being involved in a two-car collision in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon. The incident, which occurred shortly before 5pm, saw Ball's distinctive camouflage-coloured, custom-made Hummer collide with another vehicle in a busy urban area.
Details of the Incident
Video footage obtained by WSOC-TV in Charlotte depicted Ball, dressed in an aqua Hornets hoodie, exiting his damaged truck and entering another car before being driven away from the scene. Police officers were already present when the footage was captured. The video clearly showed the left front tyre of Ball’s vehicle was missing following the impact, while the driver of the other car calmly exited his own vehicle and walked towards Ball’s truck. No information regarding the identity or condition of the other individual involved has been released by authorities at this time.
A person familiar with the situation, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to discuss the details publicly, confirmed that Ball was not injured in any way. A formal police report has not yet been made available, leaving some aspects of the crash still under investigation.
Timing and Team Context
The crash took place just hours after the Hornets had concluded their team practice session. The Charlotte side is currently enjoying a strong run of form, with 10 victories from their last 11 games, positioning them well in the NBA standings. The team is scheduled to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night as the NBA season resumes following the All-Star break, a crucial match in their playoff push.
The Hornets will then host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night before traveling to face the Washington Wizards on Sunday night, making this a packed and important week for the franchise.
History of Athlete Accidents in Charlotte
This incident marks another instance of a professional athlete in Charlotte being involved in a serious road accident. In 2014, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sustained a fractured back in a crash near Bank of America Stadium, less than a mile from the location of Wednesday’s collision. Newton was hospitalised overnight following that incident but made a remarkably swift recovery, missing only one game before returning to the field within a week.
More recently, in 2024, Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton injured his thumb in a separate two-car accident in the city, highlighting a concerning pattern for high-profile sports figures in the area. These events underscore the unpredictable nature of road safety, even for celebrated athletes.
