UPDATED 1:45 P.M.
Terrapin football starting right tackle Pete DeSouza suffered two broken legs after his scooter collided with a car last night.
DeSouza, who was riding a scooter westbound on Campus Drive at the time of the accident, underwent surgery this morning and is expected to remain hospitalized throughout the weekend. He will miss the remainder of the season but is expected to make a full recovery.
University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said the accident occurred at 9:10 p.m. at 162 Union Lane, which is near the intersection of Campus Drive and Union Lane. The car — a black Toyota sedan — was allegedly making a left-hand turn in front of the oncoming scooter when DeSouza struck the car. The collision caused DeSouza to “go down,” according to a news release issued by University Police and the athletics department.
DeSouza was later transported in an ambulance to Washington Medical Center.
In the aftermath, the Toyota and the scooter remained at the scene.
There were dents on the front and left side of the sedan, the left side rear-view mirror was crushed, and the windshield was shattered but not broken.
The scooter’s handlebars were crumpled, and both mirrors were smashed. The seat was coming off, and there were small pieces of the scooter strewn about in the grass near the accident.
Shortly after the crash, bystanders gathered to watch. The driver of the Toyota, who declined to comment, was seen crying with a group of friends near the scene.
A number of DeSouza’s teammates also gathered at the scene and one player, when asked about the incident, said, “Our teammate got hit; we don’t wanna talk to nobody.”
The team is scheduled to depart for Boston College today in preparation for tomorrow’s game.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Pete and his family, and we’ll help them anyway we can,” coach Ralph Friedgen said in a statement released this morning. “We hope he makes a speedy recovery.”
A 2008 graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, DeSouza began this season as a backup before moving into the starting right tackle role for the team’s past three games after starting left tackle Justin Gilbert suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Fellow redshirt freshman Nick Klemm is listed as DeSouza’s backup, and he would likely start if DeSouza is unable to play.
The driver of the sedan was issued a traffic citation, according to the news release issued last night. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Senior staff writer Lauren Redding contributed to this report. lemaire at umdbk dot com
