Mookie Blaylock Faces At Least Two Charges After Fatal Car Crash
By Josh Hill
While former NBA star Daron “Mookie” Blaylock fights for his life, he’s going to have to also prepare himself to fight legal charges in the future. Blaylock was involved in a fatal car crash on Friday when his SUV collided head-on with a van and caused the deaths of a husband and wife couple. The former Atlanta Hawks star remains hospitalized but police report that he’s also been charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to stay in his lane.
"Jonesboro (Ga.) Police Chief Franklin Allen said 46-year-old Blaylock is charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to stay in his lane. Allen says officers haven’t been able to talk with Blaylock yet because of injuries suffered in the wreck, but they hope to do so as early as Monday. The chief says that interview and talks with prosecutors will determine whether Blaylock will face other charges."
Blaylock played 13 years in the NBA and made his name with the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets. He’s also the answer to a trivia question, as the band Pearl Jam originally called themselves Mookie Blaylock but were told they couldn’t continue using that name due to it being the actual name of Blaylock. Despite being massive basketball fans, the band changed their name and that story has long been one of the most interesting tales to creep out of the 90s Seattle scene.
It’s important to note that Blayolock has not yet been charged with vehicular manslaughter but that may be a charge he faces after he is interviewed by police. That won’t happen until he is upgraded from the current condition he is in but it’s looking as though Blaylock will survive his injuries, which is a relief to his family after Blaylock was initially listed in critical condition upon his arrival at the hospital on Friday night.
The victims in the fatal crash were identified as 43-year old Monica Murphy and her husband Frankie. Police say that Frankie was driving the van when the accident happened but not enough information has been released to accurately say how the accident happened.
All we know at the moment is two victims are dead as a result of the crash and Mookie Blaylock’s battle is far from over and extends well beyond recovering from the physical injuries he suffered in the crash.