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Thursday, July 1, 2004

Bol sustains broken neck in accident

Associated Press

COLCHESTER, Conn. -- Former NBA center Manute Bol was seriously injured in a highway accident Wednesday night, police said.

Bol was riding in a cab Wednesday night when it hit a guardrail and swerved across both lanes before hitting a rock ledge and rolling over, killing the driver and throwing the 7-foot-7-inch Bol from the car. Bol sustained a head injury and was taken by helicopter to Hartford Hospital, state police spokesman J. Paul Vance said.

The 7-foot-7-inch former University of Bridgeport star suffered a head injury and was taken by helicopter to Hartford Hospital, state police spokesman J. Paul Vance said.

"The doctor said, for his age, he's in extremely good shape and would probably be dead if he wasn't an athlete," longtime friend Andrew Kearns said.

Bol's condition was not released Thursday, but Kearns said Bol has a broken neck and is sedated.

"It's going to be a long recovery, unfortunately," Kearns said.

Bol, 43, was a second-round draft pick of the Washington Bullets in 1985. He retired in 1995 after averaging 4.2 rebounds per game and 2.6 points during his career. He blocked more shots per minute than anyone in league history.

The accident occurred about 30 miles southeast of Bol's home in West Hartford. Witnesses said Robinson was speeding and lost control of the vehicle, state police said. The car struck a guardrail and swerved across both lanes before hitting a rock ledge and rolling over.

Bol was born in Turalie, a remote village in the southern part of Sudan. The region is the home of the Dinkas, the tallest people in the world. For a time, he was the tallest man ever to play in the NBA.

Many of his relatives were leaders in the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, the rebel movement. Since 1991, he has made several visits to refugee camps, where people greeted him as a king.

An important backer of the rebel movement, Bol contributed an estimated $3.5 million. He begged for American intervention in Sudan and picketed the country's embassy.

In 2002, Bol signed with the Indianapolis Ice of the Central Hockey League to raise money for the people of his war-torn homeland. He never stepped on the ice.