Miami Heat player sued by man who lost leg in crash
Lawsuit alleges that Haywood Highsmith was speeding and negligent in incident
The man whose right leg was amputated after Haywood Highsmith crashed into him on a road in Miami-Dade County earlier this month has filed a civil lawsuit against the Miami Heat forward, alleging that Highsmith was speeding and negligent.
Alekxei Pino was in the road about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, helping a woman whose car broke down on Southwest 136th Street near Southwest 138th Avenue in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, a Miami-Dade Police Department report said.
Highsmith was driving west on Southwest 136th Street at an estimated 45 mph, 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and was not able to stop his car in time, the report said.
Highsmith crashed into the disabled car and Pino, who was directly behind it, according to the report. Pino was “suffering from a partial amputation on his right leg,” a fractured left leg and a possible broken left arm, the report said.
The civil lawsuit was filed Feb. 16 in Miami-Dade County and names Highsmith and the co-owner of the car Brenda Highsmith as defendants, court records show. It is not clear in the lawsuit complaint what Brenda Highsmith’s relation to Highsmith is.
“The force of the impact was so great that it crushed Mr. Pino’s leg resulting in an above the knee amputation and requiring Mr. Pino to undergo numerous medical procedures,” the complaint said.
Pino’s attorney Manuel Dobrinsky said in a prepared statement shared Tuesday with the South
Florida Sun Sentinel that 21-yearold Pino remains hospitalized.
“Alekxei was just trying to do the right thing by being a good Samaritan and helping a stranded motorist,” Dobrinsky said in the statement. “It’s particularly heartbreaking that a good deed has resulted in a life-altering tragedy.”
Attorney Nicholas Molina, who is representing Highsmith, declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday afternoon.
Highsmith was driving in a “careless or negligent manner” at the time of the crash, according to the police report, and was issued a noncriminal citation.
Jerry Dianis, Highsmith’s agent, issued the following statement shortly after the crash: “On his way home after the Miami Heat game against the Orlando Magic, Haywood Highsmith was involved in a car accident that injured one person. At approximately 11:20 pm, Haywood struck a pedestrian pushing an unlit disabled car down the middle of a dark road.
“Haywood immediately rushed to help the person pushing the car who had been injured. Haywood assisted a bystander who applied a tourniquet to the injury and stayed on the scene talking to the injured man offering words of comfort until an ambulance took him to the hospital. Mr. Highsmith had not consumed alcohol or drugs and was not speeding. This was an unfortunate accident.
“We have been notified that the person sustained significant injuries but is in stable condition. Haywood and his family are praying for him. Haywood is of course shaken by this and appreciates the support and prayers he has received from the Miami Heat and fans. We will have no further comment.”