A former Florida college football star was injured in a tractor-trailer accident on Feb. 25 hours after visiting Mansion Nightclub in Miami Beach. JoJo Nicolas played defensive back for the Hurricanes from 2007 to 2011. He was not initially drafted but was eventually signed to the New York Giants before being released.
According to reports, the accident occurred on the westbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway around 5 a.m. Police said that initial investigations showed that a gray Lexus rear-ended a tractor-trailer, and the car ended up underneath the semi.
Nicolas was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and was listed in critical condition after suffering serious injuries. The semi-driver was not listed as having serious injuries and was able to remain at the scene of the crash. It’s not clear whether the 24-year-old football player was driving the Lexus or whether he was a passenger, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The accident closed the westbound lanes of the causeway for over six hours.
Friends, family member and former teammates of Nicolas have been visiting him, and Hurricanes Head Coach Al Golden was also seen going into the hospital where Nicolas is being treated. The support of friends and family is vital to the recovery of those seriously injured in a truck accident. The extent of Nicolas’ injuries was not clear, but those injured in these types of crashes often need extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation, meaning high medical bills. If it is determined that someone else was at fault for the accident, Nicolas may be able to file a suit asking for compensation.
Source: NBC Miami, “Violent crash closes MacArthur Causeway westbound, former UM player critically injured” No author given, Feb. 25, 2014