Heat’s Highsmith ticketed for careless driving after crash that injured man
The agent for Haywood Highsmith said Thursday night that the Miami Heat forward is “shaken” after being involved in a late-night accident where he crashed into a man who was trying to assist the driver of another disabled vehicle.
The injured man, police said, needed a partial amputation of a leg and had other fractures and possible fractures. It was about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday when the injured man was trying to push the disabled vehicle — which did not have lights on — out of the way of traffic when Highsmith drove into him, police said.
Highsmith was ticketed for careless driving, police said.
“Haywood struck a pedestrian pushing a disabled car without lights on down the middle of a dark road,” Highsmith’s agent, Jerry Dianis, said Thursday night. “Haywood immediately rushed to help the person pushing the car who had been injured. A tourniquet was applied to the injuries by a bystander and Haywood stayed on the scene continuously talking to the injured man, offering words of comfort until an ambulance took him to the hospital.”
Police said Highsmith was traveling at about 45 mph in a 40 mph zone. Police said Highsmith was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol and was uninjured.
Highsmith was going home after Miami’s game against Orlando on Tuesday night when the accident happened. He was not with the Heat for their game Wednesday against San Antonio.
“This was an unfortunate accident,” Dianis said. “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.”
Highsmith is averaging 5.8 points this season.
■ KNICKS: OG Anunoby has undergone right elbow surgery and will miss at least three weeks, leaving the New York Knicks without their entire starting frontcourt through the All-Star break.
The Knicks said Thursday that Anunoby had a loose bone fragment removed from his elbow in the procedure. They didn’t say when it was performed and coach Tom Thibodeau said he didn’t know.
The Knicks said Anunoby would be evaluated in three weeks. All-Star forward Julius Randle is sidelined by a separated shoulder and center Mitchell Robinson is recovering from ankle surgery and set to begin doing work on the court after the break, which starts Feb. 16.
Anunoby has averaged 15.6 points in 14 games since being acquired from Toronto.
■ BULLS: Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine had season-ending surgery on his right foot on Thursday.
The team announced late last week that LaVine would have an operation after he and his agency, Klutch Sports Group, consulted with team and outside medical personnel. The two-time All-Star is expected to miss four to six months.
The decision to have surgery basically squashed any chance the Bulls had of trading him prior to Thursday’s deadline.