Jamar Smith - Multiple Charges

Via Mark Tupper:

Smith is charged with one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, a class 4 felony, in that he drove a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and was involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in great bodily harm to Brian Carlwell, and with one count of Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, a class 3 felony, in that he was involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in personal injury and failed to stop his vehicle and remain at the scene and further failed to report the accident to authorities within 30 minutes after the accident as required.

I'll admit, I did everything possibly to think the best, and all along my position was to wait for the facts to come out, but this sounds like the worst case scenario, or at least what became the worst case scenario after both players were sent home from the hospital. This is huge:

Further investigation revealed that Smith had gone to his apartment in the College Fields complex. A number of other basketball team members were in the apartment. It appears that Smith was distraught, as he believed Carlwell had died in the crash. Based on the investigation, there is no evidence that Smith had anything alcoholic to drink following the crash. At approximately 1:00 a.m., witnesses and U of I police officers located Smith and transported him to Carle Hospital, where he was treated and released. Smith submitted to blood testing. Illinois State Police lab preliminary laboratory analysis indicates that Smith’s blood alcohol content was .176

I'm not sure quite what to think, other than I'm not quite sure how Weber survives this, when added to all of the other disciplinary issues this team has been through in the last few years. I mean, it sounds like half the team was there. There's more:

They then saw the tall man and a second man return, approach the car, and then leave and go back into the building. The witnesses called 911 at 11:40 p.m. No other 911 calls were made. Sheriff’s deputies and U of I police arrived, and found Brian Carlwell unconscious in the car. He was removed from the vehicle and taken to Carle Hospital.

I suppose that's consistent with Jamar being drunk, concussed, and probably freaked over thinking he'd just killed his friend. For whatever reason, I'm not as concerned by that as some would be. But the idea that he was more than double the legal limit AND HOME AT THE TIME, and still got in his car, that's just dumb, and the result was predictable, especially in those conditions. I've probably driven at times when I shouldn't have, and I have friends who have done the same. It's not something I'm proud of. But I've never been dumb enough to leave home after I was already drunk. Geez, just let the big guy crash on your couch. I've gotta think Jamar's career at Illinois is finished. I'm not sure I'd let Carlwell play again this season, even if he's cleared to play physically.

Honestly, I think the only thing Weber can do is suspend everyone who was at the party and let these two get in a car. And if that means they play with five guys, so be it. If it costs them a shot at the post-season, so be it. Of course, the obvious question would be why didn't he do that before Sunday's game, but I can sympathize with an explanation along the lines of not wanting to interfere with an investigation, or start something that was going to spread even more rumors.

I have no idea what's going to happen next. But I can almost guarantee that the outcome will be too harsh for some people, and not severe enough for others.