A recently surfaced video shows nan stomach-churning infinitesimal that New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols loses power of his Dodge Charger Hellcat astatine 84 mph and runs a hapless motorist disconnected nan road, sending nan BMW airborne, hurtling complete a guardrail and into a field.
Stephen Gilberg, 51, of Livingston, N.J., claims he became “partially paralyzed” pursuing nan April 26, 2022 accident, and is now suing Echols and nan Jets.
The high-speed clang unfolded astir 2 p.m. connected Columbia Turnpike, adjacent Morristown Airport, conscionable minutes from nan Jets’ believe installation successful Florham Park, N.J.
Echols was suspended for 1 crippled successful 2023 but nan squad ne'er publically announced it was for nan rookie’s reckless, near-fatal driving.
The injured New Jersey man has said nan clang and injuries will “forever haunt me.”
In nan 10-second dash-cam clip obtained by The Post, Echols, down nan instrumentality of nan achromatic 2021 Hellcat, can beryllium seen attempting to walk Gilberg’s achromatic 2018 BMW X5 connected nan left. The musculus car abruptly veers correct and rams into nan driver’s broadside of nan Beemer, propelling Gilberg’s SUV complete nan guardrail.
The BMW landed “upside down successful a marshy area,” nan unfortunate said.
Gilberg remained trapped wrong nan flipped BMW for an hr until emergency responders could trim him retired of nan vehicle, his lawyer said.
The clang near him pinch surgery ribs and “no emotion aliases activity successful some hands and his correct limb that required spinal surgery,” according to constabulary reports.
Gilberg continues to person curen for his injuries, he said successful tribunal papers.
Police said an investigation recovered Echols was walking astatine a velocity of 84 mph — successful a 50-mph area — 5 seconds earlier impact, constabulary records show.
“The information recorder had him [at apical speed] upwards of 111 mph,” charged Gilberg’s attorney, Nicholas Leonardis.
Echols, who was alone, was not injured.
The Jets are responsible for nan negligent acts of Echols, Gilberg said successful nan Morris County Superior Court suit revenge past month.
“New York Jets . . . did not exercise reasonable attraction successful hiring defendant, Echols, arsenic 1 of its players successful that they grounded to behaviour nan due centrifugal conveyance and/or criminal history checks,” nan suit states.
Echols “has a history” of reckless driving and had a “remote controlled licence sheet concealer” successful nan vehicle, alleged Gilberg. Such concealers are usually utilized to evade tolls and speeding and red-light cameras.
A cheque of Echols’ Mississippi driving grounds revealed he had “four instances of speeding usurpation convictions, pinch 1 for going 15 miles per hr complete nan limit and a 2nd for 20 miles per hr complete nan limit,” according to a constabulary report.
The Jet besides was issued a anterior informing for flying down nan aforesaid turnpike successful nan aforesaid sportscar, according to nan constabulary report. In that instance, Echols was stopped conscionable aft midnight connected Dec. 20, 2021 by a Florham Park cop, who recalled stopping nan conveyance “for walking 82 mph successful a 50 mph zone.”
Echols, who has not admitted immoderate guilt, was criminally charged pinch battle by car past twelvemonth but “voluntarily” entered a three-year pretrial involution programme that could consequence successful nan complaint being dismissed.
He received summonses for reckless driving, speeding, nonaccomplishment to deterioration a spot belt, unsafe lane alteration and improper passing. Those excessively will reportedly beryllium dismissed erstwhile Echols completes nan three-year requirements.
As for Gilberg, he was taken to Morristown Medical Center pursuing nan clang and had 2 spinal surgeries and compiled aesculapian bills of astir $1 cardinal by March 2023, according to nan claim.
Echols has to salary Gilberg $1,200 per period successful “restitution” until nan victim’s $54,460 “out of pocket” aesculapian expenses is reached, according Leonardis.
“While I’ve made definite strides physically, specified arsenic learning to locomotion again albeit not successful nan aforesaid measurement I utilized to, it’s nan nervus harm and nan symptom you don’t see,” Gilberg said during a February 2023 tribunal hearing. “The beingness things I will ne'er beryllium capable to do and nan psychological trauma I americium surviving pinch each azygous time that will proceed to effect nan remainder of my life.”
Gilberg and his wife, Cheryl, are suing Echols, nan Jets, nan NJ authorities Department of Transportation and different entities, alleging battle by car and negligence. The suit contends DOT was “negligent successful nan creation and installment of curbs and guardrails.”
“This is simply a lawsuit of conscionable complete disregard for nan information of others connected nan roadway from a man who has been pulled complete successful nan past for speeding successful town. A man who has a instrumentality that hides his licence plate,” said Gilberg’s attorney, Leonardis.
Leonardis, who declined to make Gilberg disposable for comment, said, “You person to beryllium held accountable for your conduct. And I haven’t seen thing from immoderate of nan posts I’ve seen from Mr. Echols wherever he’s expressed 1 connection of remorse. He’s ne'er reached retired to my client.”
Neither nan Jets nor Echols’ lawyer returned messages seeking comment.
“Mr. Echols is not alleged to person been driving nether nan power of immoderate substances and location are nary claims that Mr. Echols intended to wounded anyone,” his lawyer Mitch Schuster told nan Daily Record successful March 2023. “Mr. Echols is profoundly saddened that Mr. Gilberg suffered injuries arsenic a consequence of nan mishap and wishes Mr. Gilberg a afloat and speedy recovery.”
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Echols, who signed a 4-year, $3.6 cardinal statement pinch nan Jets, played astatine Kentucky and was a sixth-round prime successful nan 2021 draft. In 2023, he appeared successful 14 games, had 18 tackles and had 1 interception for a touchdown.
To immoderate fans, Echols is champion known for asking Tom Brady to autograph a shot he intercepted disconnected of him successful a heartbreaking Jets nonaccomplishment to nan Buccaneers successful 2022.
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