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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was reportedly holding a cell phone while behind the wheel when the Tesla he was driving crashed head-on into a Mercedes SUV in downtown Palo Alto on July 14, according to records from the California Highway Patrol.
Shanahan reportedly suffered significant injuries, including a serious concussion, broken ribs and a broken nose, during the crash that occurred at about 6:12 p.m. on Alma Street and Hamilton Avenue. Palo Alto police confirmed the incident on Saturday, shortly after ESPN broke the story about the crash, but they declined to provide details about what exactly happened or who was at fault.
Public records, however, suggest that while the driver of the Mercedes appeared to have been at fault for the collision, Shanahan’s phone use may have been a contributing factor.
The documents reviewed by this publication show that one of the drivers in the Alma Street collision, a 46-year-old white man driving a black Tesla, was holding a cell phone at the time of the crash. While the report doesn’t include any names, the description matches Shanahan. It cites as a factor in the collision the male driver’s “inattention” and violation of a state law that prohibits use of a handheld wireless phone while operating a vehicle.
The crash report indicates that the Tesla was going south on Alma Street at about 6:12 p.m. when it collided with a Mercedes GLC-300 driven by a 21-year-old woman. While police said that no one had been cited as of July 26, the CHP report indicates that the woman appeared to have been at fault, Shanahan’s cell phone use notwithstanding.
The report indicates that the primary cause of the collision was the Mercedes driver making an unsafe turn. She apparently turned from Hamilton to northbound Alma when she collided with the Tesla.
Neither driver was reportedly drinking and both wore seatbelts, according to the report. Airbags in both vehicles deployed during the collision. Shanahan was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Emergency responders reported that one of the drivers was “bleeding from the head,” according to radio dispatch.
The 49ers are set to begin regular season on Sept. 10 and it remains unclear whether Shanahan will be available for the game. During a Saturday press conference, General Manager John Lynch said Shanahan remains in “concussion protocol” and that his availability will be based on changes in his condition and feedback from medical staff.
The team also announced on Saturday that Assistant Head Coach Chris Foerster and team coordinators will handle head coach responsibilities during his recovery period.
Lynch said that the top priority for the team and for Shanahan’s family is to “get him back right.”
“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,” Lynch said.
