University of Kentucky football starter Ashely Lowery remained in the intensive care unit of a Gainesville hospital Sunday while state troopers tried to find out what caused his single-car crash early Saturday.

The 20-year-old Lowery was near his home in Cleveland when his car ran off Town Creek Road in White County and overturned several times. The Georgia State Patrol said he was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown about 100 feet from his 2006 Nissan Altima around 4 a.m.

Lowery was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with serious injuries, GSP spokesman Gordy Wright said. No one else was involved in the crash, he said. Investigators still don’t know what caused the wreck.

Lowery, a safety for Kentucky, was a standout player at White County High School, where a sensational run his senior year ended up on YouTube, catching the eyes of several colleges. He started eight games for the Wildcats in 2012 as a true sophomore, finishing fifth on the team in tackles (43).

—Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia State head coach Jonas Hayes greets Kennesaw State head coach Antoine Pettway before their game at the Georgia State Convocation Center, Friday, December 6, 2024, in Atlanta. The game between Kennesaw State and Georgia State is referred to as the I-75 Challenge. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez