NEED TO KNOW
Kyle Shanahan was injured in a car crash in Palo Alto, Calif., on July 14
The San Francisco 49ers head coach, 46, will now take a limited role during training camp while recovering, the team confirmed in a statement
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster and team coordinators will handle coaching duties until Shanahan fully returns
Kyle Shanahan is recovering after being injured in a car accident.
The two-vehicle crash involving the San Francisco 49ers coach, 46, occurred in Palo Alto on July 14, according to the Associated Press. Shanahan’s vehicle collided with an SUV near his northern California home, ESPN reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Shanahan suffered a severe concussion, three broken ribs, a broken nose, and a broken hand in the crash, ESPN stated. The coach was taken to a local hospital following the collision, but the other driver was not injured, per the outlet.
Shanahan spent much of the evening of July 14 in the hospital, but has since been released, ESPN noted.
Kyle Shanahan
Credit: Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
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The 49ers addressed the incident in a statement shared on Saturday, July 25, which read, “San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in a car accident last week where he suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Coach Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp while he recovers.”
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster, along with team coordinators, will handle head coach responsibilities while Shanahan recovers, the team shared in the statement.
“Coach Shanahan and the 49ers organization would like to sincerely thank all first responders involved for their efforts and care,” the 49ers said.
Palo Alto police lieutenant Nicholas Martinez confirmed that drugs or alcohol were not involved in the crash, per ESPN. The officer added that both drivers had cooperated with police, and that no one had been cited following the collision.
“Kyle is doing good,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said at a press conference on Saturday. “He’s got some bumps and bruises. He did suffer a concussion in the accident [and] has some lingering effects from that concussion.”
Kyle Shanahan
Credit: Terry Schmitt/UPI/Shutterstock
“We don’t have a protocol for staff members when it comes to concussions, but we do with players and it’s become very helpful, so Kyle basically is going to be in the protocol,” he continued.
Lynch explained that Shanahan would be taking “a phased-back approach” in returning to his coaching duties with the team.
“He did break his nose … [and] broke some ribs; that’s painful, but that’s not what’s keeping him away. It’s the concussion,” he said. “We’ll continue to evaluate him, phase him back. And as he can tolerate things, we’ll expand those. And that will clearly be dictated by the doctors and nothing else.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Palo Alto Police Department and a San Francisco 49ers spokesperson for comment, but didn’t immediately hear back.
Read the original article on People