College Football Coach Sues Estate of Suspected Drunk Driver After Sustaining 'Life-Changing' Injuries in Car Crash

An ex-NFL subordinate and assemblage shot coach is recovering aft he was successful a superior car mishap past period — and he's now suing nan property of nan suspected drunk driver who was involved.

Travian Robertson, 36, a erstwhile protect lineman for nan Atlanta Falcons and existent protect statement coach for nan University of South Carolina, was injured successful a head-on collision connected Aug. 22. The different driver, 35-year-old Kelly Johnson, was killed successful nan crash.

In a civilian suit — revenge successful Richland County, S.C., and obtained by PennLive, WIS-TV and The State — Robertson and his wife, Kettiany, reason that they are entitled to existent and punitive damages from Johnson's property for "physical injury, symptom and suffering, intelligence anguish, mislaid wages, nonaccomplishment of consortium, spot harm and different matters."

The magnitude of financial damages will beryllium wished by a jury.

The suit alleges that Johnson's "reckless" action "caused injuries to Plaintiff Travian Robertson which resulted successful nan nonaccomplishment of services, company, society, cooperation, affection and companionship" for him and his wife.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) said astatine nan clip that nan clang took spot connected Dutch Fork Road successful Richland County, wherever Johnson's Nissan Pathfinder drifted complete nan halfway statement and collided pinch Robertson's Chevrolet Tahoe, per WIS-TV. Johnson died astatine nan scene.

"We expect him [Robertson] to make a afloat betterment and beryllium backmost retired connected nan section soon," nan University of South Carolina said successful a statement astatine nan clip of nan crash. "Please support nan families of those progressive successful nan mishap successful your prayers and respect nan Robertson family's privateness during this time."

A SCHP study obtained by WIS-TV aft nan incident stated that Johnson was believed to beryllium nether nan power astatine nan clip of nan crash.

According to a connection from Robertson's attorney, nan erstwhile Falcons subordinate spent 2 weeks successful nan hospital, including 10 days successful an intensive attraction unit.

Robertson underwent 5 surgeries for his "severe and life-changing injuries," nan lawyer added.

"Kettiany, our 3 boys, and I sincerely admit nan outpouring of prayers and support we person received from nan organization successful nan weeks since my accident," nan coach told nan outlets successful a statement. "It has been and will proceed to beryllium a journey, but I americium grateful to God my life was spared."

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PennLive reported that Robertson has since been released from nan infirmary and has not yet returned to full-time activity astatine South Carolina, but plans to arsenic soon arsenic he can.

"My existent attraction is connected betterment and rehabilitation truthful I tin get backmost to being nan husband, begetter and coach I americium called to be," Robertson said successful his statement.

The university's caput coach, Shane Beamer, told The State last week that Robertson has been moving virtually to assistance pinch crippled readying alongside nan remainder of nan coaching staff.

"We're successful connection pinch him and talking regularly," Beamer said. "He's getting amended each day."