Rashee Rice faces fallout on numerous fronts as a result of the street race and hit-and-run incident in which he was involved on March 30, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
As previously reported in Gridiron Heroics, Rice’s attorney, Royce West, expects criminal charges to be filed against Rice soon, possibly this week. Additionally, with the NFL monitoring the situation, Rice faces a likely suspension from the league, regardless of the outcome of any criminal case.
And now, based on reporting from The Athletic, we learn that individuals who were involved in the multi-vehicle accident in Dallas have hired lawyers to bring civil actions against Rice.
Criminal Charges Against Rashee Rice Are Likely to Be Filed Soon
Nate Taylor, who covers the Kansas City Chiefs for The Athletic, reports:
“Rashee Rice, the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, is expected to be charged by the Dallas Police Department, perhaps as soon as this week, following his involvement in a multi-vehicle car crash that occurred on March 30 in northeast Dallas. Rice was the driver of a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle that caused the crash, his attorney Royce West said [on April 4, 2024] in a news conference. The crash caused a chain reaction collision involving four other vehicles, police said.
“Two other drivers involved were treated at the scene for minor injuries and two occupants of another vehicle were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.”
One of the more serious charges Rice may face is a felony street-racing charge.
Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code § 545.420, an individual commits “a felony of the third degree if” he or she engages in street-racing and thereby causes another “individual [to] suffer .. bodily injury.” This offense carries a possible sentence of two to ten years in prison.
Fortunately, the injuries in this accident were minor. Thus, prosecutors could exercise discretion to charge Rice with a lesser, non-felony charge.
The law in Texas also provides penalties for motorists who flee from the scene of an accident:
“After an accident, drivers in Texas have a duty to stop and provide contact information to the other driver.”
Leaving the scene of an accident can result in criminal charges pursuant to Texas Transportation Code § 550.002.
“Failure to stop after an accident can result in criminal penalties, including possible imprisonment in cases of an injury or fatal accident….
“The penalties for leaving the scene of an injury accident or fatal accident are more serious. Failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving injury or death is:
- A second-degree felony if the accident resulted in death,
- A third-degree felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury, or
- A county jail felony if the accident did not result in death or serious bodily injury.
“The criminal penalties for leaving the scene of an injury accident can result in prison time, jail time, and/or fines.”
These Texas statutory provisions pertaining to hit-and-run accidents also pose a problem for Rice, as the evidence seems fairly clear that he quickly fled the scene of the accident in this case.
Again, however, the circumstance that the injuries involved in this incident appear to have been minor may prove to be Rice’s saving grace. He is likely only facing misdemeanor or low-grade felony charges for fleeing the scene of an accident that did not involve serious injuries.
Members of the media asked Rice’s lawyer why he left the scene of the accident. The lawyer replied:
“That’s a good question [and it is] still being investigated. I can’t get into the particulars now.
“My main focus over these last few days has been to understand, as best [as] possible, the facts — and I still don’t have all of the facts — and make certain the police department understood that [Mr. Rice] was not running from anybody or trying to hide from anyone. He wanted to cooperate, which we’ve done.”
Another problem for Rice is that less than an ounce of marijuana was found in the Lamborghini he was admittedly driving.
In Texas, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $2,000.
Usually, prosecutors in Dallas do not file any charges at all in cases involving possession of small amounts of marijuana.
However, the prosecutors will undoubtedly investigate whether Rice was under the influence of marijuana when driving. If they determine he was, they could file charges for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. (Marijuana is regarded as a controlled substance.)
Likely NFL Suspension
Regardless of whether Rice is ultimately convicted of a crime, he is likely to be suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Ample precedent exists for suspensions in the absence of criminal charges. Deshaun Watson received an eleven-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy based on sexual assault allegations that did not result in criminal charges. Likewise, Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Ezekiel Elliott, and Kareem Hunt were all suspended by Commissioner Goodell based upon conduct that did not result in criminal charges — eight games for Hunt, six games for Roethlisberger and Elliot, and three games for Winston.
As noted by The Athletic:
“Through the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association, the NFL and [Commissioner] Goodell have broad disciplinary power. The league’s personal conduct policy states that NFL players and employees are ‘held to a higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL and is lawful.’
“Rice could be suspended multiple games next season for violating [this] … policy. Regarding Rice’s incident, the policy defines [a] violation as ‘conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person.'”
Former Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. received a four-game suspension in 2022 due to a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property filed against him in Kansas.
If felony charges are filed against Rice, problematic consequences could ensue:
“If Rice faces felony charges, Goodell could place him on the league’s commissioner’s exempt list. Created in 2014 in the wake of the domestic violence case involving then-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, the exempt list allows the league to remove a player facing felony charges from the playing field and take that disciplinary decision away from the team. [Placement on the] exempt list … [results in] a paid suspension during the regular season. The personal conduct policy states the NFL can also place a player on this list if league investigators want more time to look into allegations of a ‘crime of violence.'”
Civil Lawsuits
Per The Athletic, Rice’s lawyer has been in contact with attorneys who represent other individuals involved in the accident. The lawyer stressed that these individuals are victims and that Rice is remorseful for the harm his actions caused them. In that regard, the counselor made the following remarks:
“Our priority, right now, is making sure those persons involved in that accident are taken care of. [Mr. Rice’s] heart goes out to [the injured people]. He’s a young man [who] made a mistake. But for the grace of God, someone could’ve been seriously injured and [Mr. Rice] understands that — and he appreciates that. That’s why he wanted to come out and say that he’s going to be responsible for making certain that the victims are made whole, as best possible.”
The lawyer further stated:
“The fact is you’ve got a 23-year-old young man who’s never been in this type of situation before. What happens next is we continue to work with the Dallas Police Department, answering questions that they have, and we work with the victims to make certain that we deal with their issues, [whether] bodily injury or property damage.”
This story is evolving, and Gridiron Heroics will continue to provide coverage as events unfold.
Related Stories:
- Report: Kansas City Chiefs Phenom Receiver Allegedly Involved in Major Accident (Author: Connor Downs, March 31, 2024)
- REPORT: Video Surfaces Of Crash Allegedly Involving Kansas City Chiefs Star WR Rashee Rice (WATCH) (Author: Jordan Sigler, March 31, 2024)
- Update: SMU Mustangs & Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Reportedly Retains Counsel as Dallas Police Seek to Locate Him (Author:
- Kansas City Chiefs Official Statement On Rashee Rice Car Race Accident (Author:
- Update: Super Bowl Champion Rashee Rice Cooperating with Authorities (Author: )
- NFL Is ‘Monitoring’ The Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice Situation Closely (Author: )
- Rashee Rice Admits Involvement in 6-Car Hit-and-Run ( )
- BREAKING: Rashee Rice Releases First Direct Public Statement Concerning Tragic Car Accident (Author: )
- Kansas City Chiefs Rashee Rice’s Lawyer Makes Powerful Statement on Crash Incident Involvement (Author: )
- BREAKING: Incriminating News Surrounding Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice’s Multi-Car Collision Continues to Unfold; NFL World Reacts – 2024 Offseason (Author: )
- REPORT: 10.8 Grams Of Marijuana Found In Lamborghini Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Was Driving (Author: )
- Rashee Rice Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison (Author: Victor Haltom, April 6, 2024)
For more sports-related news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans, SMU Mustangs, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Rams, please follow me at @vshjah_Victor.