DALLAS — About a week has passed since a multivehicle hit-and-run crash involving Rashee Rice, a Kansas City Chiefs player. It's unclear what charges the 23-year-old might face for his role.
Rice’s lawyer, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said he anticipates Dallas police to soon file charges against the former Richland High School and SMU standout. At a news conference Thursday, West said Rice was driving the Lamborghini Urus in the six-vehicle crash that injured at least four people and damaged multiple cars.
West’s news conference came a day after Rice stated in a written statement he took “full responsibility” for his part in the crash. The Dallas Morning News was the first to report Sunday that police were looking to speak with Rice in connection with the collision.
Kristin Lowman, a Dallas police spokeswoman, stated a driver in a Chevrolet Corvette and a driver in a Lamborghini Urus were speeding in the far left lane of the highway, near University Boulevard, when both drivers lost control. The Urus traveled onto the shoulder and “hit the center median wall, causing a chain reaction collision.”
Dashboard camera footage shows both cars trying to pass in the left lane before hitting a white sedan and colliding with multiple vehicles, blocking lanes of traffic. Rice was linked to both cars as he rented the Urus, and the Corvette was registered or leased to him, officials said.
The driver of the Corvette and the other passengers have not been publicly identified. Rice and four other men were seen on video leaving the scene. Dallas police officials said they didn’t stop to see if anyone needed medical attention or provide any of their information. West said Rice was not trying to run or hide from anyone.
Texas law mandates individuals in car accidents to promptly stop and exchange information with other parties involved. Furthermore, people must offer aid and promptly notify the appropriate authorities. Leaving the accident scene can be a misdemeanor or felony under Texas law, depending on the severity of injuries or damage from the crash.
According to WFAA-TV, a police report states 10.8 grams of marijuana — less than an ounce — was discovered in the Lamborghini SUV that Rice was driving. In Texas, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot announced in 2019 his office would not take first-time, low-level marijuana cases. By mid-August 2023, following a law to create a path to remove “rogue” DAs — prompted by criticism of Democratic district attorneys who enacted polices to not prosecute certain crimes — Creuzot’s office released a memo, stating staff will individually review each case and use “discretion in charging and in the final disposition of the case.” The new guidelines supersede previous policies, including the nonprosecution of some marijuana cases.
No one had been charged by Thursday, according to Lowman.
West stated that his legal team contacted Dallas police on Sunday night and met with detectives on Monday. Lowman mentioned on Thursday that the department was still investigating, which would involve speaking with witnesses, victims, and others potentially involved.
West mentioned that Rice reached out to some of the injured individuals and will "do everything in his power" to help bring back normalcy to their lives. He also mentioned that Rice answered all of the police's questions and is described as "a young man that made a mistake." Additionally, the state senator, who is a managing partner for the law firm West & Associates, encouraged the public not to judge Rice solely based on the crash and to get to know him first.
At least three of the crash victims have hired lawyers. West said that Rice will make a public statement in the next week.
