Dearborn Police say their investigation into a traffic accident involving Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is closed, and no tickets will be issued to either party.
“The investigation is closed,” the department said in a released statement. “It was a minor traffic accident in which fault cannot be determined and there will be no charges to either party.”
After today’s practice, Suh refused to speak with reporters, despite repeated requests.
Stephen Vines, 43 of Livonia, said Suh sideswiped his 1999 Ford Escort about 6:20 a.m. Thursday, as he was driving to work along the Southfield Freeway. Vines said Suh didn’t stop after the accident and grew angry after he followed him to the Lions’ practice facility.
“What it comes down to is it was an arrogance thing, in my eyes,” Vines said Thursday. “It was just pure arrogance. ‘Get out of my way, or I’m going to make you move.’ And then, ‘I’m too good to sit here and wait. I’m going to leave, you guys can come find me.’”
Vines guessed that his car suffered $ 500-$ 2,000 worth of damage.
“Only because it’s front-wheel drive, and he smashed the front end — it’s making noises,” he said. “It’s, basically, from the driver’s side mirror forward, all caved in. The rim’s bent a little bit, my hubcap’s destroyed. I can take my hand and stick it between the front quarter panel and the door all the way down. I can make a fist in between there. It’s hard opening the door, of course. It now whistles when you’re driving.”
Suh has not commented on the accident and is practicing today, but he wrote on Twitter this morning, “Blessed to be at work today and ready to finish phase 1 of physical part of week! #GLADTOHAVENONOFMYTAILLIGHTSBROKENTHISMORNING”
Suh has been involved in at least three other traffic incidents since the Lions took him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft.
As a rookie, he was involved in a two-car accident when a Honda Civic struck his Land Rover as he drove through a Royal Oak intersection. Police ticketed the driver of the Civic.
Last December, while he was home in Oregon, serving a two-game suspension for stomping an opponent, Suh lost control of his 1970 Chevrolet Coupe and hit a tree, a light pole and a drinking fountain. He was sued this summer for more than $ 1 million by a passenger in the car.
And in March, Suh was ticketed for doing 91 m.p.h. in a 55-m.p.h. zone on an Oregon freeway.
Suh also was ticketed for negligent driving during his final season at Nebraska, when he reportedly sideswiped three parked cars.
Contact Dave Birkett: 313-222-2037 or dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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