Junior Seau SUV Crash Hours After Domestic Violence Arrest Not a Suicide Attempt

By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

Former New England Patriots linebacker, Junior Seau drove his White Cadillac SUV off of a California cliff several hours after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, The Associated Press reported.

Seau, who is now a free agent, was arrested at his Oceanside, California home shortly after midnight Monday after Oceanside police were called to the home he shares with his 25-year-old live-in girlfriend.

The Associated Press reported that officers were called to the home to investigate an assault. When they arrived, Seau's girlfriend told the officers that the 6'3 linebacker assaulted her during an argument the two had Sunday night and left the home. Seau, who returned to his home while police were present, was arrested around 12:20 a.m. and charged with spousal assault with injury.

Seau, whose full name is Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. (pronounced Tee-eye-EE-nuh SAY-ow) was booked and released at 3:20 a.m. after posting bail on the felony charge.

Five hours later, The Los Angeles Times reported that North County police received a 911 call at approximately 8:42 a.m. about a vehicle that ran off the road at Carlsbad Boulevard at Solamar Avenue.

Seau was reportedly conscious and speaking to EMT's while being transported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for treatment, The Associated Press reported.

Carlsbad police later issued a statement saying, "Preliminary investigation shows the vehicle left the roadway and traveled over the cliff, landing on the beach below. The vehicle was only occupied by the driver, a male who was identified as Junior Seau.... Investigation is continuing into how and why the accident occurred."

Seau insisted the crash was not the result of a suicide attempt, but the result of him falling asleep at the wheel. Police later concluded that there was no evidence Seau was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that the former gridiron star did, in fact, fall asleep at the wheel.

According to Seau's Wikipedia page, the 41-year-old American Samoan announced his retirement from the NFL during an emotionally charged press conference on August 14, 2006, after signing a one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers. Seau returned to football just four days later, signing with the New England Patriots where he started 10 of the first 11 games, recording 69 tackles before breaking his right arm while making a tackle in a game against the Chicago Bears.

The divorced father of four children reportedly heads a San Diego-based nonprofit organization, which has donated nearly $4 million for services and scholarships to children and young adults. Seau is also a restaurateur, with two establishments called "Seau's" in Southern California.