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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan accepted blame on Tuesday for the car crash that occurred in downtown Palo Alto on July 14, when the Tesla he was driving crashed head-on into a Mercedes SUV according to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and other media outlets.
Shanahan reportedly suffered significant injuries, including a serious concussion, broken ribs and a broken nose, during the crash 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 indicated 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. But in a conversation with the San Francisco Chronicle and other news agencies Tuesday, Shanahan accepted blame for the crash, the Chronicle reported.
Shanahan told reporters in his office that he momentarily took his eyes off the road when his phone fell between the seats of his Tesla before he swerved into the northbound lane of Alma Street, hitting the Mercedes. He told the reporters that he had been “wracked with guilt since the crash,” according to the Chronicle.
As this new organization and others reported Tuesday, crash records from the California Highway Patrol indicated that the Tesla driver was holding a cell phone at the time of the crash. While the report didn’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 crash report indicated that the woman appeared to have been at fault, Shanahan’s cell phone use notwithstanding.
After Shanahan accepted blame, Palo Alto police attributed the initial report to an error in transmitting the crash report to the state database. Lt. Nicolas Martinez confirmed that Shanahan’s statement was correct and that he was found at fault for the collision.
“We are in the process of correcting that error,” Martinez said in a statement. “It is the officer’s discretion at the scene of the collision as to whether they issue a citation to either party. It is not uncommon for officers to elect to not issue a citation to either party involved in a collision. Neither party in this situation was provided preferential treatment.”
Addressing speculation about why the July 14 accident wasn’t previously announced, Martinez noted that the department’s practice is to only issue press releases for accidents that involve a fatality.
According to the crash report, neither driver was reportedly drinking and both were wearing 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 the 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 depend on his recovery 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.
