3afan
02-13-2006, 12:55 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=AtH7XpZcLl5.sKfd5wQiCmg5nYcB?slug=ap-sutton-accident&prov=ap&type=lgns
Sutton cited with DUI, will not coach for rest of season
By KELLY KURT, Associated Press Writer
February 13, 2006
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Eddie Sutton was cited with driving under the influence after he was injured in a car accident, and the Oklahoma State basketball coach will take a medical leave for the rest of the season.
The injuries to the 69-year-old coach, along with chronic back pain, prompted the decision, the school said Monday. Sean Sutton, his son and head-coach designate, will finish this season as coach. The university added that no decision has been made on who will coach next season.
Sutton was hospitalized overnight for a head injury and released Saturday. The occupant of the other SUV received minor injuries and was released at the scene, officers said.
In a statement released by the university, Sutton said that "with my deteriorating physical condition and other issues, I have been under a tremendous amount of stress."
The coach said he had been close to taking a medical leave after a Feb. 4 trip to Kansas State "because the pain in my back was making it very difficult to coach."
"After Friday's events, I know it is best to go on medical leave the remainder of the season to address my future health," he said. "It is very difficult to step away from the team. But I know they are in great hands."
Stillwater police cited Sutton after Friday's accident but did not jail him on a complaint because of a lack of physical evidence, the city's police chief said Monday.
Police are awaiting the results of blood tests that will confirm whether the coach was driving under the influence, Stillwater Chief Norman McNickle said. It could take six to eight weeks to receive the test results. Sutton was not given a field sobriety test at the time because he needed treatment, McNickle said.
Before issuing a DUI citation "officers have to have reasonable suspicion to believe the person was under the influence at the time," the chief said, declining to discuss those suspicions because they are part of an investigation.
The police department has filed complaints against Sutton for speeding and crossing the road's center line, the chief said.
Sutton was traveling to the Stillwater airport to fly with his team to College Station, Texas, when the accident happened. According to a police report, Sutton's sport utility vehicle went left of the center line on a Stillwater street, corrected and then struck another SUV from behind at about 60 mph.
Witnesses told police that shortly before the accident, Sutton was unsteady on his feet and struck his head after falling in the parking lot of Gallagher-Iba Arena before entering his vehicle, Stillwater police said Saturday.
Updated on Monday, Feb 13, 2006 12:04 pm EST
Sutton cited with DUI, will not coach for rest of season
By KELLY KURT, Associated Press Writer
February 13, 2006
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Eddie Sutton was cited with driving under the influence after he was injured in a car accident, and the Oklahoma State basketball coach will take a medical leave for the rest of the season.
The injuries to the 69-year-old coach, along with chronic back pain, prompted the decision, the school said Monday. Sean Sutton, his son and head-coach designate, will finish this season as coach. The university added that no decision has been made on who will coach next season.
Sutton was hospitalized overnight for a head injury and released Saturday. The occupant of the other SUV received minor injuries and was released at the scene, officers said.
In a statement released by the university, Sutton said that "with my deteriorating physical condition and other issues, I have been under a tremendous amount of stress."
The coach said he had been close to taking a medical leave after a Feb. 4 trip to Kansas State "because the pain in my back was making it very difficult to coach."
"After Friday's events, I know it is best to go on medical leave the remainder of the season to address my future health," he said. "It is very difficult to step away from the team. But I know they are in great hands."
Stillwater police cited Sutton after Friday's accident but did not jail him on a complaint because of a lack of physical evidence, the city's police chief said Monday.
Police are awaiting the results of blood tests that will confirm whether the coach was driving under the influence, Stillwater Chief Norman McNickle said. It could take six to eight weeks to receive the test results. Sutton was not given a field sobriety test at the time because he needed treatment, McNickle said.
Before issuing a DUI citation "officers have to have reasonable suspicion to believe the person was under the influence at the time," the chief said, declining to discuss those suspicions because they are part of an investigation.
The police department has filed complaints against Sutton for speeding and crossing the road's center line, the chief said.
Sutton was traveling to the Stillwater airport to fly with his team to College Station, Texas, when the accident happened. According to a police report, Sutton's sport utility vehicle went left of the center line on a Stillwater street, corrected and then struck another SUV from behind at about 60 mph.
Witnesses told police that shortly before the accident, Sutton was unsteady on his feet and struck his head after falling in the parking lot of Gallagher-Iba Arena before entering his vehicle, Stillwater police said Saturday.
Updated on Monday, Feb 13, 2006 12:04 pm EST