Tom Brady Car Accident and Other Athletes Who Dodged Tragedy
Tom Brady was able to walk away from a minor car crash Wednesday morning, but news of the crash certainly provided a big scare to Patriots fans.
Brady struck a Ford minivan with his Audi and was reportedly shaken by the accident but unhurt. He left the scene in another vehicle and without receiving any medical treatment.
He was back on the practice field Thursday afternoon.
Other famous athletes involved in accidents weren't nearly as lucky.
In addition to the tragic death's of athletes ranging from Roberto Clemente to Malik Sealy, there have been plenty of star athletes who survived serious crashes but were never the same again.
Here's a look at 10 athletes who have had fate on their side.
No. 10: Dennis Rodman
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Dennis Rodman's wild behavior wasn't the cause of a frightening single-vehicle accident earlier this year in Florida.
The retired rebounding legend was traveling on 1-95 when an SUV he was riding in flipped and rolled as the result of a tire blowout.
Amazingly, Rodman walked away from the crash with only a slight cut on his finger.
It's going to take more than that to bring down The Worm.
No. 9: Bob Probert
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Bob Probert's life was filled with battles against drug and alcohol abuse.
In 1994, the long-time NHL enforcer crashed his motorcycle in suburban Detroit. Although he suffered only minor injuries, it could have been much, much worse.
Police announced that the Canadian's blood-alcohol level was over three times the legal limit and also found traces of cocaine in his blood.
He sat out the entire 1994-95 season before returning as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
He passed away earlier this year at age 45.
No. 8: Dario Franchitti
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Race car drivers like to go fast, and Dario Franchitti is certainly no exception.
In 2003, Franchitti was vacation in Scotland when he crashed his motorcycle. He sustained a serious back injury and was forced to miss the majority of the season, including the Indy 500.
He returned the following year and showed no ill-effects from his injury.
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No. 7: Ben Roethlisberger
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Ben Roethlisberger was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident in 2006 and suffered several major injuries, including a broken jaw and a nine-inch laceration to the back of his head.
The accident was initially believed to be life-threatening, but after seven hours of surgery he was expected to make a complete recovery.
Big Ben was cited for failure to ride with a helmet and failure to operate with a proper license by Police. The accident came after the Steelers had been critical of his passion for riding without a helmet.
He publicly said he learned his lesson after the crash, saying he would wear a helmet if he ever rode again.
No. 6: Hermann Maier
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In 2001, Hermann Maier was involved in a devastating motorcycle wreck many figured was certain to end his skiing career.
Amazingly, the Olympian recovered despite breaking both legs and being told he would never walk again.
He proved the doubters wrong and won a Silver and Bronze medal in the 2006 Winter Games.
No. 5: Dany Heatley
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Dany Heatley's brush with fate in 2003 ended with a teammate dead and his reputation smeared forever.
Then a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, Heatley was driving wildly when he lost control of his Ferrari and crashed into a brick pillar and an iron fence outside a residence.
Snyder was in a coma for several days before he passed away.
Heatley was initially charged with vehicular homicide, but instead plead out and received probation as a result of a lesser charge of reckless driving.
No. 4: Kellen Winslow
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Kellen Winslow became the poster child for why NFL players should not be riding crotch-rockets.
In 2005, the hot-headed young tight end was learning to ride a sport bike in a parking lot when he suffered injuries that conspired to nearly to ruin his career while costing him millions.
Winslow was forced to miss the entire season while recovering from a torn ACL and a significant shoulder injury.
After the accident, several NFL teams, including the Steelers, took steps to prevent stars from riding motorcycles.
In some cases it worked, but it some cases it didn't.
No. 3: Chad Jones
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Chad Jones mysteriously lost control of his Range Rover in New Orleans earlier this summer, smashing into a light poll and creating a tangled mess that required him to literally be sawed out of the vehicle by firefighters.
Although two passengers with Jones were not seriously injured, his future as an NFL player was in doubt after doctors feared they would be forced to amputate his left foot.
Jones also suffered two shattered bones in his left leg, but the Giants are optimistic he could return next season after a lengthy rehab process.
No. 2: Jay Williams
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Jay Williams was all the rage in Chicago after arriving from Duke. His rookie season was far from spectacular, but there were still plenty of reasons to hope he would be the point guard of the future for the Bulls.
Not so much.
Williams suffered major injuries in a motorcycle crash in 2003, including a leg injury that would cause his NBA career to end before it really had a chance to begin.
He attempted to make numerous comebacks after rehabbing extensively, but never regained his burst or quickness.
His career might have been over, but at least he was alive. Witnesses said he flew at least 10 feet after striking a light pole on his bike, which he had purchased just days earlier.
No. 1: Bobby Hurley
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Bobby Hurley probably never would have been a great pro player anyway, but his near-fatal car accident clearly hampered his development.
The 7th overall pick of the 1993 NBA Draft was driving home after a game in Sacramento his rookie season when a vehicle collided with his truck.
Hurley was thrown through the windshield and it was later determined he wasn't wearing a seatbelt in the crash.
Whether it was because of the 12 different injuries he sustained in the crash or simply because of a lack of talent, Hurley was out of the NBA in four years.
He is lucky to still be alive.
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