Former NBA All-Star was upgraded to serious condition a day after his SUV crashed head-on into a van, killing a woman, the Associated Press reported. The hospital listed Blaylock in critical condition on Friday, and police said the former professional basketball standout was placed on life support for a short time during the day.
Police in Jonesboro, a suburb of Atlanta, said that Blaylock was driving Friday afternoon on Tara Blvd a busy four-lane near Atlanta, when his Cadillac Escalade, crossed the center media and crashed directly into a van with two people inside. The impact killed the passenger in the van, Monica Murphy, and her husband, the driver broke an ankle.
Once he is responsive, Blaylock could face vehicular homicide charges in Murphy's death. He also is in line to face charges for driving on a suspended license.Jonesboro police chief Franklin Allen also said there was an outstanding warrant in Spalding County for Blaylock for failure to appear on a DUI and drug charges. However, there were no indications that alcohol or a high rate of speed had been a factor in this accident.
Allen added that Blaylock previously had been under a doctor's care concerning seizures.
Blaylock was airlifted from the accident, according to USA Today. By Saturday, he was sedated following the surgery treating his broken ankle at the Atlanta Medical Center.
The former star at the University of Oklahoma, Blaylock spent 13 years in the NBA, including seven with the Atlanta Hawks, and was an All-Star in 1994. He also played for the New Jersey Nets and Golden State Warriors, averaging 13.5 points, and nearly 7 assists for his career. He is the Atlanta Hawks' all-time franchise leader in three-point field goals made, three-point field goal attempts, and steals.
He led the Oklahoma Sooners to the NCAA championship in 1988.
Early on in his professional career, the rock band "Pearl Jam" originally named their group "Mookie Blaylock," but were forced to change their name. They settled on "Pearl Jam" but named their first album "Ten," in recognition of their favorite basketball player. (Upon learning of Blaylock's car crash, the band posted an instagram on their page, underscoring their special bond with him).
Blaylock has two twin sons who recent committed to playing college football with the University of Kentucky.
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