J.R.Smith Not to be Indicted by Monmouth County Grand Jury for Role in Fatal Accident
Denver Nuggets star J.R. Smith won't have to face a grand jury indictment for his role in a fatal Millstone car accident that killed his passenger – a Monmouth County jury has decided not to indict the basketball star, who continues to be as reckless on the streets as he was before the fatal crash of June 2007.
The accident occurred when Smith allegedly ignored a stop sign, and drove around a car that was stopped, and into the path of an incoming vehicle. Both Smith and his passenger Andre Bell were ejected from the car, and Bell sustained serious head injuries. He died a couple of days later at the hospital. Smith received citations for improper passing and failure to stop at a stop sign.
This wasn't a man who was a stranger to runs ins with the law when it came to his driving skills, or lack of them. At the time of the accident that killed Bell, Smith had a grand total of 27 points as well as 5 suspensions on his record. These related to reckless and careless driving, as well as speeding. All of these were accumulated in less than 12 months of driving. In fact, his license had been suspended for 150 days as recently as four months before the accident.
The basketball star promised after the accident that he would clean up his act and take more care on the roads. That doesn't seem to have happened at all. Since the crash, Smith has gone on to collect at least three more suspensions and two more tickets for speeding. In July of 2008, he had his license suspended again, this time for a period of two years. With a grand jury indictment out of Smith's immediate future, he doesn’t have to worry about facing any prison time for his role in the accident, although he will continue to face motor vehicle summonses.
You can't accuse Smith of not having his priorities right. When asked about his reaction to the decision of the grand jury, he was nonchalant -
"It was a relief that I get to keep playing basketball"
One of his best friends is dead in a car accident that was caused due to Smith's own rash driving, and wanton disregard for traffic laws, and all he cares about is shooting hoops? Such disdain for the life of others is not only troubling, but I suspect it must also be infuriating to the family of Andre Bell, who've had to ensure a terrible tragedy.
Unfortunately, all too often, criminal courts may not deliver the kind of justice victims' families need, which is exactly where civil courts and Monmouth County accident lawyers come in.
