The New York Times reported Friday that Florida State University cornerback P.J. Williams drove into the path of another vehicle, totaling both cars, then fled from the scene with two passengers, including the team’s other starting cornerback, Ronald Darby, after a big football victory in early October. (Source: NYTimes.com)
The car that was struck was driven by a teen, Ian Keith, returning home from work, The Times reported.
“Keith said in an interview that the airbag had cut and bruised his hands,” according to the report.
Tallahassee police responded to the off-campus crash, but after involving Florida State University police and the school’s athletic department, “it was as if the hit and run had never happened,” according to the report.
The explosive report details how police handled the case:
“The examination found that Mr. Williams, driving with a suspended license, was given a break by the Tallahassee police, who initially labeled the accident a hit and run, a criminal act, but later decided to issue him only two traffic tickets. Afterward, the case did not show up in the city’s public online database of police calls — a technical glitch, the police said.”
The Times said Florida State University officials, Williams and Darby all failed to respond to requests for comment on the story.
The Times report “comes amid heightened national scrutiny of preferential treatment given to athletes,” including articles “examining how the authorities have sometimes gone easy on Florida State football players.”
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