Dennis Rodman Involved In A Hit-And-Run Accident

Dennis Rodman was involved in a hit-and-run accident in July. On Monday, he was also charged with a few other crimes.

Dennis Rodman was charged with a hit-and-run and three other misdemeanor offenses, including driving without a valid license, giving false information to the police, and driving across the divider on the road. The charges were filed against Rodman, who is a former NBA player, by the Orange County district attorney. Sources have revealed that the hit-and-run accident occurred on Interstate 5 in Santa Ana, California, on July 20.

#DennisRodman Charged In Wrong-Way Crash On Freeway In #SantaAna https://t.co/i7w96TjPza

— KNX News 97.1 FM (@knxnews) November 22, 2016

“We agree that if anything, this is a misdemeanor traffic matter, and certainly not a felony. We appreciate the district attorney evaluation and know that it should resolve successfully when all facts are considered,” pointed out one of Rodman’s representatives.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Rodman was driving North in the wrong lane designated for vehicles heading south. This forced an oncoming car to swerve, and as a result, it ended up hitting a wall to avoid a collision with the vehicle that Rodman was driving. Rodman’s legal representative, Paul Meyer, argued that the defendant took a wrong turn due to a poorly marked exit sign, thus causing the accident.

The police officers who handled the case stated that Dennis was driving his Range Rover in the wrong direction and that he almost collided with an oncoming sedan. The police officer further added that the reckless driving caused the Sedan to swerve and, as a result, crashed into a wall. The officer also reported that the former NBA player stopped his car for a moment but then decided to flee the scene without exchanging any information with the other driver.

Not long after the accident, the California Highway Patrol urged Orange County prosecutors to file charges against Rodman. If convicted, the former NBA player could end up facing as much as two years in prison. Rodman was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. During his basketball career, he played a total of 14 seasons in the NBA for different teams, including the Mavericks, Lakers, Bulls, Spurs, and Pistons.

Rodman also gained more fame from his highly publicized affair with Madonna as well as his colorful hairstyle. He is also known as a close friend to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. During his NBA career, Rodman was also famous for his defensive skills as well as his rebound expertise.

“Mr. Rodman turned and corrected the driving error, stopped and spoke with the people in the other car. Their cars never touched. We look forward to a discussion of all of the facts,” Meyer explained in a statement.

The defendant’s lawyer is trying to prove that Dennis only committed the offense of driving on the wrong side of the road due to an unclear road sign. The lawyer also pointed out that Rodman’s vehicle did not come into contact with the plaintiff’s car. However, the prosecutor argues that Rodman was wrong for not waiting for the authorities to arrive and settle the matter. Rodman’s lawyer did not deny that his client drove on the wrong side of the road. If the ruling is in favor of Rodman, the result of the case will be less harsh than the current expectation of two years in prison if he is convicted.

Rodman will also be charged with other offenses, but they will most likely not carry a major sentence since they are misdemeanor offenses. The court hearing is still ongoing, but the ruling on Rodman’s hit-and-run accident is expected to be delivered soon.

[Featured Image by Danny Moloshok/AP Images]