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Driver In The Charlie Davies' Accident Had Been Drinking, Says Detectives

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Charlie Davies underwent hours of surgery after being involved in a severe single-car accident outside of D.C., which killed one woman. The U.S. team played a qualifier Wednesday night against Costa Rica, where Davies was honored.

+16 updates and 3 comments below.

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Update: Driver In Charlie Davies' Crash Had Been Drinking

The driver in the crash that injured U.S. soccer star Charlie Davies’ in October had been drinking, according to police.

A U.S. Park Police detective wrote in the court papers that the driver told police that she drank alcohol before the crash and officers smelled alcohol on her breath. The driver, Davies and Roberta were last seen about an hour before the accident at a D.C. establishment that serves alcohol, the detective added.

Detectives describe the accident as being caused by distraction. The unnamed driver said she was adjusting her GPS unit when one of the passengers screamed, causing the driver to swerve right and strike the guard rail.

Davies has already began rehabilitation and told ESPN that he is hopeful of playing in the 2010 World Cup. He is recovering from two fractures in his right leg and a badly injured bladder.

Update: Good Sign: Charlie Davies Moved Out of Intensive Care

The U.S. striker who was badly injured in a fatal car accident last week has been moved out of the intensive care unit at the Washington Hospital Center, according to Soccer By Ives.

Although there is more surgery to come for Davies:

Davies is still recovering from the multiple injuries suffered during a deadly car crash last week, but has been strong enough to receive and speak to guests and is set to undergo another surgery on his broken left elbow. He still may require operations for facial fractures.

Update: Charlie Davies Is Just One of Us

Daily Soccer Fix takes the time to remind everyone that no matter famous Charlie Davies is, no matter how many goals he's scored or caps he's recorded, yesterday, he was just one of us.

Today, Charlie Davies is just a human being like any of us, doing what some of us sometimes must: negotiating an overwhelming cascade of fears, thoughts and emotions. 

Today Davies lies in ICU with a mangled leg, terrible internal injuries, various other physical ailments and a career that may be in tatters.  And then there’s an impending emotional undertow that, God willing, few of us will ever deal with.

He was in car with someone who died. No matter what the circumstances – and I’m sure we’ll know more later – it must be a terrible burden. 

So today, Charlie Davies is a man whose future is cloudy. What he’ll be doing for work in 12 or 24 months, he can only hope for and guess about right now.

In his case, there's an extra layer of tangled introspection ahead: I'm sure that he's happy to be alive, but his head is surely spinning with those difficult questions, something along the lines of "Why her and not me?"

Pro athletes live an entirely different existence, indeed – most of the time. There are times, clearly, when they aren’t so unlike the rest of us, men brought to our knees, at the mercy of our doubts, regrets and fears.

A pretty somber and sobering reminder of just how quickly a life can be changed.

Update: Davies' Family Releases an Official Statement

While there’s still no word as to a timetable for his recovery, Charlie Davies’ family spoke out and expressed gratitude for the support their son has received from fans across the country. Here’s their official statement:

“The tremendous support the family has received is of great comfort and much appreciated at this difficult time. Our thoughts also go out to the families and friends of those involved in the accident. We would also like to thank all the staff at Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. and the staff at the United States Soccer Federation for all their tremendous efforts. Charlie is in a serious but stable condition and is resting after extensive surgery. If you would like to send any messages of support to Charlie we have set up an e-mail account at CharlieDavies9@yahoo.com. Thank you again and we will keep you informed when possible as Charlie continues his recovery.”

Update: Fans Support Davies as U.S. Squeaks 2-2 Tie

Sam’s Army, the U.S. Soccer fan club that organized the Charlie Davies support effort tonight, can be proud of their work: That tribute was pretty fitting.

Basically every U.S. fan, at least those that made their way onto ESPN’s broadcast, had the requisite No. 9 paper sign at the 9th minute. After full-time, the U.S. gathered and held up a No. 9 Davies banner. It was an impressive display.

In the meantime, after Costa Rica jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, the U.S. men fought back in the second half — including a stoppage-time goal by Jonathan Borstein — to net a 2-2 tie in a game they probably had no business winning. In soccer, ties like that are considered wins, and given that the U.S. will end qualifying at the top of the CONCACAF standings, they can officially consider the night a success.

Update: As U.S. Prepares to Play Costa Rica, Davies 'Responsive'

SI’s Grant Wahl brings a bit more positive news on Davies’ condition:

At RFK for US-CR. Davies update: Described as being “responsive” (handsqueezes), still serious but stable cond. Wore seatbelt, in back seat.

Update: Fans Organize Tribute to Davies During Tonight's World Cup Qualifier Match

News of a tribute to Charlie Davies during tonight’s match against Costa Rica has been circling around the web since late last night, but Washington Post’s Soccer Insider blog has the details … and the print-out.

Fans who are attending the game are being asked to print this out and hold it up during the entire ninth-minute of the match (which starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2).

The idea for the print-outs was formulated by the Baltimore Brigade, a group of US soccer supporters.

Update: Wahl Confirms: Fractures to Tibia, Femur, Face

Grant Wahl confirms Charlie Davies’ injuries:

USSF on Charlie Davies: fractures to right tibia/femur, left elbow, facial fractures. Lacerated bladder.

Turns out that's not all, though. From Wahl's Twitter page:

Davies hospitalized at least 1 week. Added surgery will be required for left elbow, possibly facial fractures.

USSF: Titanium rods inserted in Charlie Davies' right femur/tibia.

USSF doc: Davies' injuries usually require 6-12 months recovery & long rehab. Due to CD fitness, chance to play hi level again improved.

Considering the seriousness of the crash -- the post-crash images are terrifying -- that's a pretty solid prognosis for Davies. Not only is he not at serious long-term health risk, but his soccer career isn't necessarily over, either, two positives to end an otherwise very negative day.

Update: TV Station: Davies Has Broken Tibula, Femur

We haven’t seen this information anywhere else yet, and various other reporters (namely Grant Wahl, who’s as close to the U.S. Men’s National team as anyone) have yet to confirm these injuries, but here’s a report from a D.C.-area 5-o-clock news broadcast claiming Davies has a broken femur and tibula. Make of it what you will. (Though, if you ask us, most hospitals wouldn't claim their patient was in "serious" condition if his biggest problems were broken bones. But then again, we're not doctors.)

Update: Davies Was Passenger in Vehicle

According to Grant Wahl, Davies was a passenger in the car:

Confirmed: Charlie Davies was a passenger in car. Woman who died, Ashley Roberta, also a passenger. Hope to learn more about driver.

Update: More Davies Details Expected After 9 p.m. EST

From Grant Wahl:

More specifics on Charlie Davies expected after 9 pm ET. Family set to land from CA by that time. Davies was out after U.S. curfew.

That curfew touch is troubling, but we’ll wait for those details before we speculate even a little bit.

Update: AP: Hospital Lists Davies In 'Serious Condition'

Washington Hospital Center Medstar is listing Davies in “serious condition” following lengthy surgery this afternoon. What does “serious” mean? Below are the American Medical Association’s standard conditions, listed from least serious to most:

Undetermined: Patient awaiting physician and assessment.

Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.

Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.

Serious: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable.

Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.

A hospital spokeswoman said Davies’s injuries were not life-threatening, and didn’t know how they would affect Davies’s playing career.

Update: Davies Out of Surgery, Still No Word On Injuries

SI’s Grant Wahl is in touch with the Davies family and is reporting that Charlie is out of surgery. There’s still no word on Davies’s injuries; the hospital has yet to issue a report, and though Charlie’s mother told Wahl what she thought the surgeries were for, Wahl isn’t willing to report the third-hand info. More to come, we’re sure.

Update: Davies Reportedly Has Broken Leg, Internal Injuries

Steven Goff of the Washington Post’s Soccer Insider reports that Charlie Davies suffered a broken leg and internal injuries during this morning’s catastrophic car accident.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

Update: Injuries Potentially Career-Threatening According to USSF Spokesman

Washington Post’s Soccer Insider Steven Goff says that a USSF spokesman called the injuries sustained by Davies “possibly” career-threatening. Although that may have gone without saying just by taking one look at the images of the car he was occupying.

Update: Davies In Stable Condition, Still In Surgery

Grant Wahl tweets:

Davies still in surgery for up to 90 more minutes, in stable condition. No other U.S. players involved in accident.

U.S. Striker Charlie Davies in Surgery After Being Involved in Serious Car Accident

From the Washington Post's Soccer Insider:

Charlie Davies in surgery after car wreck on GW Parkway. Not life threatening. Fatality involved in accident.

Match Fit USA has done some connecting of the dots and found that there was a fatal accident on the Parkway this morning. The WTOP article about said accident mentions no names, although it is the only report of a fatal car crash in that area this morning, so 1+1, etc.

More from the WTOP article:

Accident reconstruction near Boundary Channel Drive kept the parkway closed after the 3:15 a.m. accident.

The impact of the single-vehicle accident sheered the car in half, reports WTOP's Kristi King from the scene.

One person is dead. Two others are in serious condition.

U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser says the preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle lost control. The car struck the metal railing that goes across the bridge.

Yes: The impact tore the car into two pieces. Here's the back half:

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We'll have more as we learn about Davies' injuries and condition.