Davies in Serious Condition After Car Accident

Crash Early Tuesday Morning Killed Another Passenger

Oct. 14, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. men�s national soccer team forward Charlie Davies is in serious but stable condition and resting following several hours of surgery at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. to treat injuries suffered in a one-car accident on the George Washington Parkway early Tuesday morning in Northern Virginia.

Charlie Davies was having a breakout year for the U.S. men's national team and signed for Sochaux in France during the summer transfer window. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Davies, a Manchester, N.H. native and former Boston College star suffered a lacerated bladder and fractures to the tibia and femur bones in his right leg. He also suffered facial fractures and a left elbow fracture. Davies was air-lifted to the hospital where a team of doctors first repaired a ruptured bladder and then inserted titanium rods in both the tibia, the bone in the lower leg, and the femur, which is the thigh bone, with no complications.

Davies will be hospitalized for at least a week and additional surgeries will be required to stabilize his left elbow fracture and possibly the facial fractures.

�Injuries of this nature usually require a recovery period of six to 12 months and extensive rehabilitation,� said U.S. Soccer physician Dr. Dan Kalbac, who is with the team in D.C. and collaborated with the treating doctors. �Due to Charlie�s fitness level, his prognosis for recovery and his ability to resume high-level competition is substantially improved.�

Davies is in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. national tea as the squad prepares for its final 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, taking place Wednesday night against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium.

Davies, who has played 17 matches for the USA while scoring four goals, started and played 78 minutes in the USA�s 3-2 victory over Honduras in San Pedro Sula last Saturday that clinched a berth for the United States to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

�Obviously, as a team we were saddened to learn this news,� said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley in a statement. �Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family, as well as the people in the car and the families of the others involved. As a team, we are relying on each other in a moment that has for sure hit us all hard.�

According to published reports, Davies was one of three people in the car that crashed around 3:15 a.m. He was not driving.

Ashley Roberta, 22, of Phoenix, Md., died in the crash. She was also a passenger.