Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says his 'heart bleeds' for young girl who was critically injured after car wreck with his son
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said his 'heart bleeds' for young girl who was critically injured after a car wreck involving his son.
Reid's son Britt Reid, 35, was involved in a crash on Thursday night which left a 5-year-old named Ariel in critical condition.
Britt, an assistant linebackers coach for the team, allegedly crashed into a car carrying Ariel and a four-year-old child that was hospitalized just two days before the team was slated to leave Kansas City for the Super Bowl.
Andy, whose team were defeated 9-31 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, declined to excuse his team's loss on the tragedy.
'My heart goes out to those involved, the family of those little girls fighting for their lives,' he said after the game, according to the New York Post.
'From a human standpoint, my heart bleeds for them.'
The assistant coach allegedly had 'two to three drinks' on his prescription Adderall, according to KSHB. He was also hospitalized but his injuries have not been revealed.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, watches from the sideline during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl on Sunday
The Kansas City Chiefs were brutally defeated 9-31 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Reid declined to excuse his team's loss on the tragedy
Any Reid insisted the tragedy did not affect preparations for the game, and that the Chiefs' game plan 'was put in a week ago.'
'From a human standpoint, yeah, it's a tough one. From a football standpoint … two separate things,' he said.
'From a football standpoint, I don't think that was the problem.'
Reid did take 'full responsibility' for the Chiefs loss against Tampa Bay.
'We can't do the things we did and beat a good football team like that — especially at this level. I could have done a better job putting guys in better position,' Reid said.
He added: 'It was a bad day to have a bad day.'
Britt did not accompany the Kansas City Chiefs and his father, Andy Reid, as they touched down at the Super Bowl on Saturday afternoon, flying into town a day before they faced the hometown Buccaneers.
Ariel's family has since started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her medical expenses, which has so far garnered $288,347 in donations as of Sunday night.
Britt Reid, pictured, did not accompany the team to the Super Bowl after he was involved in the accident
Ariel, pictured, remains in a coma in the hospital after a car she was in was hit by Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid
A GoFundMe for Ariel has raised more than $288,000 for her medical bills as of Sunday night
The crash happened just an exit south of the Chiefs' practice field
'Ariel remains in the hospital in critical condition and is not awake. No progress updates as of right now,' according to a Sunday update to the GoFundMe.
The team confirmed on Saturday that Britt was not making the trip to Tampa and that he was involved in a multi-vehicle pile-up in Missouri that resulted in the injury of two young children.
'The organization has been made aware of a multi-vehicle accident involving Outside Linebackers Coach, Britt Reid,' the statement read.
'We are in the process of gathering information, and we will have no further comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.'
Britt Reid has been with the team since his father was hired by the franchise in 2013.
The crash took place just after 9pm on Thursday night on Interstate 435 near Eastwood Trafficway, close to the Truman Sports Complex where the Chiefs were wrapping up final practices.
The police reported that a Chevrolet Impala had run out of gas and parked in the entrance ramp from Stadium Drive to I-435 as they called family to help.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid arrived to Tampa without his son on Saturday
When family arrived, they parked a Chevrolet Traverse in front of the stranded vehicle.
Britt Reid told police that he was driving a white Dodge Ram Laramie Sport pickup truck that struck the left side of the Impala as the driver tried to get it up and running.
The driver had been in the car at the time Reid struck the vehicle but did not suffer any injuries.
The report states that Reid's Ram than continued to strike the parked Traverse where two children were sitting in the backseat.
Britt, who is reported to have previous DUI, drug and gun charges, is now being investigated to determine whether he was impaired at the time of the crash.
According to a police warrant, officers could smell 'a moderate odor of alcoholic beverages' from Reid when they arrived at the scene and noted that his eyes were blood shot.
Reid told officers that he had two to three drinks and informed them of his Adderall prescription. The warrant also states that an officer noted signs of impairment in Reid.
This not the first time Reid has had trouble with the law over potential drinking and driving.
In 2007, then aged 22, Reid was sentenced to eight to 23 months in jail, plus five years' probation, on gun and drug charges.
Britt Reid told officers he had been drinking before the crash and take Adderall
It came after he pointed a handgun at another driver following a dispute, according to ESPN.
Reid pleaded guilty to carrying an unlicensed firearm, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of an instrument of crime in connection with the incident.
According to KSHB, Reid had been arrested again seven months later and charged with DUI: controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
His bail was revoked from the first arrest and he again pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of one to six months in February 2008.
Pennsylvania court records show that he was fined more than $10,000 for the two incidents and ordered to complete Drug Court, which he did in July 2012.
ESPN reported that as Britt and his brother Garret Reid were sentenced following the first arrest in 2007, a judge likened their father's home to a 'drug emporium' as he questioned whether the adult sons should live there.
At the time, Garrett, who was described as a drug addict and dealer, was sentenced after crashing into another car while high on heroin.
