Star cornerback for the New York Jets, Brandin Echols, was involved in a high-speed crash while driving his Dodge Charger Hellcat. The driver he hit, 51-year-old Stephen Gilberg, now claims he is partially paralyzed after his BMW X5 was launched over a guardrail by the NFL player, landing in a marsh. Footage of the wreck has surfaced, and it looks terrifying.
Reportedly, Echols was traveling at 84 mph in a 50 mph zone when he collided with the BMW and ran it off the road on April 26, 2022. Gilberg is now suing Echols and the Jets, according to the New York Post.
The crash occurred on the Columbia Turnpike near the Morristown Airport, not far from the Jets’ practice complex in Florham Park, New Jersey. Footage shows the Mopar muscle car suddenly veering right, likely from torque steer, and hitting the X5 on the driver’s side.
The force of the impact pushed the BMW against the guardrail and then over it. The footage does not clearly show the BMW flipping onto its roof in a marsh, where Gilberg was reportedly trapped for about an hour until first responders could extricate him.
Police reports indicate that Gilberg suffered broken ribs from the crash. More devastatingly, he suffered “no feeling or movement in both hands and his right leg,” which required spinal surgery. He is still receiving medical treatments for these conditions.
Gilberg’s attorney alleges that the Hellcat’s data recorder shows the car was traveling up to 111 mph before the crash.
While a BMW X5 is not a lightweight vehicle, tipping the scales at a few hundred pounds or so versus a Dodge Charger Hellcat (depending on the configuration), other factors contributed to the severity of the crash. The Bimmer’s higher center of gravity made it less stable in a collision like this.
The location of the crash, near the NY Jets’ practice facility, raises questions about Echols’ driving behavior and its implications. The footage reveals the sheer force of the collision and the perilous position it left Gilberg in.
Gilberg’s lawsuit against Echols and the Jets highlights the ongoing legal and medical battles following the incident. As Echols faces these serious allegations, the impact on both his career and the victim’s life remains significant.
The crash not only underscores the dangers of high-speed driving but also serves as a reminder of the potentially devastating consequences that can follow. The incident has prompted discussions about road safety and the responsibilities of high-profile athletes.