Rashee Rice Faces Little Accountability After High-Speed Hit-and-Run
In the year since his high-speed excursion on a Dallas highway turned into a multivehicle hit-and-run, Rashee Rice has faced little accountability.
The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and former SMU football star is still waiting for eight criminal charges to be presented to a Dallas County grand jury, a panel that will decide whether the cases against him should move forward.
Without an indictment or no-bill, Rice and the victims pursuing legal action against him have been left in limbo.
Delays and Allegations
At least one lawyer involved in a civil case against Rice believes his stature and his counsel’s position in state politics has had “undue influence” on the proceedings. Kyle Coker, who represents the company that rented out one of the totaled sports cars, pinned blame on the Dallas County district attorney’s office for the delay.
“If this was any other person other than a football player who retained a state senator … then this would’ve gone very different,” Coker said. “ I don’t want everybody to forget about it, and I don’t wanna let the guy off.”
A spokesperson for the DA’s office declined to comment, citing the pending case.
Public Promises and Lack of Action
In the days after the crash, Rice wrote on social media that he took “full responsibility,” and his attorney said the NFL player would “do everything in his power” to bring normalcy back to the victims’ lives.
A spokesperson for the Chiefs did not respond to an email or phone call seeking comment on whether Rice faces disciplinary action from the franchise. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the matter remains under review.
Meanwhile, representatives of the victims from the March 30, 2024, collision said Rice has yet to make good on his public promises.
“Mr. Rice has offered absolutely nothing to make amends,” said Marc Lenahan, attorney for an Uber passenger injured in the crash. “Mr. Rice has apologized, but his lack of actions to match leaves in doubt whether that is sincere or a manipulative and cynical ploy.”
In the days after the crash, Rashee Rice wrote on social media that he took “full responsibility,” and his attorney said the NFL player would “do everything in his power” to bring normalcy back to the victims’ lives.(Charlie Riedel / AP)
State Senator’s Response
State Sen. Royce West, who represents Rice, said the attorneys’ allegations are false. He declined to elaborate or specify when Rice last reached out to victims from the crash, noting the case is still pending and adding it would be improper to try to resolve it in the media.
“What occurred was unfortunate and we’re doing everything that we can in order to make certain that the victims are treated fairly,” West said. “We’re seeking solutions, not fame.”
Criminal Charges and Civil Lawsuits
Rice faces one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. So, too, does his former SMU teammate Theodore “Teddy” Knox, accused in the same wreck.
Knox’s attorney, Deandra Grant, confirmed “nothing has happened” in his cases, either. She did not provide further comment.
The two men also face a volley of civil lawsuits — by Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova, a Dallas couple who said the crash caused them brain trauma, lacerations to the face, contusions, disfigurement and internal bleeding; and by Kamlesh Desai, whose injuries from the collision may be permanent, according to Desai’s lawsuit.
Crash and Investigation
Rice and Knox face accusations they drove into multiple vehicles about 6:20 p.m. in the 6600 block of North Central Expressway, then walked away as victims waited for help and stood stranded on the highway for hours.
Police officials have said a driver in a Chevrolet Corvette and a driver in a Lamborghini Urus were speeding in the far left lane, near University Boulevard, when they lost control. The Urus traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles, police officials have said.
Footage shows the Urus and Corvette attempting to pass cars in the left lane before slamming into a white sedan, then colliding with multiple vehicles across lanes of traffic.
Rice was driving 119 mph in the Urus, which he’d rented, police wrote in an arrest-warrant affidavit. Knox is accused of driving 116 mph in a Corvette registered to Rice, then slowing to 91 mph about a second before the collision. The speed limit is 70 mph on that stretch of highway.
Aftermath and Reactions
Sanjay Mathur, an attorney who represents Petrovskiy and Gromova, said his firm hasn’t been able to move the lawsuit “as fast as we wanted” after the court granted West’s request to delay proceedings. He said his clients are still coping with injuries, adding Gromova needs plastic surgery on an eye that was scarred in the crash.
Other victims spoke out after the collision, including Kayla Quinn, who said she and her 4-year-old son were shaken up by the crash that left their Hyundai Accent “un-drivable.” Quinn did not reply to requests for comment over text for this story.
“He has taken the least amount of accountability as possible,” said Coker, the attorney for the car rental company. “ He’s getting away with it and thumbing his nose at the system.”
Conclusion
The case of Rashee Rice and the high-speed hit-and-run crash that injured multiple people and damaged several vehicles is a complex and ongoing one. With Rice facing eight criminal charges and multiple civil lawsuits, the outcome is far from certain. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Rice will be held accountable for his actions and whether justice will be served for the victims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the crash?
Rashee Rice and his former SMU teammate Theodore “Teddy” Knox were involved in a high-speed hit-and-run crash on a Dallas highway, injuring multiple people and damaging several vehicles.
What charges does Rice face?
Rice faces one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.
What is the status of the case?
