WholeHogSports
UA’s Davis injured in traffic altercation
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/66752/
University of Arkansas junior linebacker Wendel Davis required medical attention at Washington Regional Medical Center after he reportedly pounded on a vehicle following a traffic incident Tuesday afternoon in Fayetteville.
UA Police reported Davis, 19, was driving a scooter at 12: 30 p. m. when the scooter was allegedly bumped by a 2005 Nissan Altima driven by Onyebychi Chukwunonso Odunukwe, 20, as Odunukwe approached a stoplight at the intersection of Garland Avenue and Maple Street.
A statement issued by Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino indicates a history between Davis and Odunukwe.
“ I’m aware, ” Petrino said Tuesday evening through the UA Sports Information Department, “ of matters involving Wendel Davis and the other individual involved in the incident. At this point, I am attempting to gather all of the facts regarding the situation. Once those facts have been gathered, we will move forward in an appropriate way. ”
According to the report, Davis approached the Altima and began beating on the car and windows.
“ He did do damage to the car, ” said UAPD Lt. Gary Crain told Kate Ward of the Northwest Arkansas Times. “ I believe he broke the windshield and dented the side of the door. ”
Davis was transported to Washington Regional Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries to his hand.
According the report, as Davis continued beating the vehicle, Odunukwe shifted his car into reverse and struck a 1998 Ford Explorer behind him.
Davis was booked into the Washington County Detention Center Tuesday night at 6: 14 and released at 6: 38. He was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, with a hearing set for July 30.
A junior middle linebacker from Sweeny, Texas, Davis missed all spring drills under new coach Petrino after requiring knee surgery from a torn anterior cruciate injury during an offseason conditioning workout.
He has rehabbed the injury this summer and was projected to participate in preseason drills after the Razorbacks report Aug. 3.
The last two years Davis lettered under former coach Houston Nutt as a specialteamer and reserve linebacker.
He played 10 games as a true freshman on the Razorbacks’ 2006 SEC West championship team and made 20 tackles while breaking up one pass.
Last year as both specialteamer and the backup middle linebacker to the sincegraduated Weston Dacus, Davis played all 13 games with one start as an outside Will linebacker against Tennessee.
He made 39 tackles, including 17 on special teams, and broke up one pass.
Davis was projected to contend for the starting middle linebacker berth during the August preseason that was battled for in the spring by redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin of Marion and sophomore reserve letterman Jermaine Love.
Already thin at linebacker starting with Dacus’ graduation, the Razorbacks are permanently without 2007 starting outside linebacker Freddie Fairchild, dismissed from the team by Petrino for disciplinary reasons.
Last Sunday Razorback sophomore reserve outside linebacker Freddy Burton was arrested by UA police in Fayetteville and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Burton’s Razorback status remains under Petrino’s review.