LARGO, Fla. — Miami Hurricanes linebacker Adarius Hayes was involved in a tragic two-vehicle collision that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to at least two others, according to local law enforcement.
This unfortunate incident occurred in Hayes’ hometown of Largo, Florida, where his Dodge Durango was involved in a crash with a Kia Soul on Saturday. The three deceased victims were all occupants of the Kia Soul.
Despite the severity of the crash, no citations or criminal charges have been issued as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Miami Hurricanes have confirmed that Hayes was hospitalized following the accident but has since been released.
In a statement, the Hurricanes expressed their condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn the crash resulted in three fatalities, as confirmed by Largo Police, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost.” The institution is working to gather additional details on the matter.
The driver of the Kia, a 78-year-old woman, was one of the fatalities, police reported. Initially, it was also revealed that two children, aged 10 and 4, perished in the crash. By Sunday, further investigation confirmed that these children were passengers in the Kia. Another individual in the same vehicle sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized.
According to Megan Santo, the public information officer for the Largo Police, neither driver showed any signs of impairment during the accident.
Hayes, who made appearances in 12 games as a freshman for Miami primarily on special teams last season, was a highly sought-after athlete out of Largo High School. He chose Miami amid interest from powerhouse programs such as Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
Largo sits roughly 20 miles from Tampa and is about 15 miles north of St. Petersburg along the picturesque Gulf Coast of Florida.