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Miami Hurricanes’ Seantrel Henderson ‘glad to still be alive’ following car wreck

 

UM offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson still is physically and emotionally recovering from a car accident.

 

Offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, (77), during the University of Miami Hurricanes Media Day on campus on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
Offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, (77), during the University of Miami Hurricanes Media Day on campus on Saturday, August 11, 2012.
Al Diaz / Miami Herald Staff

mnavarro@MiamiHerald.com

University of Miami offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson said recently he didn’t want to “relive” the car accident he was involved in on Aug. 1.

“It was kind of scary,” Henderson said Saturday at the Hurricanes media day — the first time the 6-8, 340-pound junior had spoken to reporters since camp began.

“I’m just glad to still be alive.”

So is the family whom Henderson barreled into — including a 5-year-old girl from Homestead who was ejected from her vehicle but escaped with only a gash to her forehead.

“The state trooper and emergency crew kept telling me this baby is a miracle child,” said Kezia Greene of Homestead, the 30-year-old driver of the white Dodge Durango that was struck by Henderson after he ran a red light crossing the intersection of U.S. 1 and SW 184th Street in Miami, according to a witness in the police report.

“Now, all my daughter talks about is how she flew out of a window and landed on the hood of a car. We are so lucky Wi’karria is still with us.”

According to the traffic crash report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol, Greene was attempting to make a left turn when Henderson, driving a silver 2006 Chevy Impala owned by Quenesta Eyvette Wilson of Lake Worth (the mother of teammate Clive Walford), collided with the Durango.

The collision sent the sports utility vehicle — carrying Greene, her 16-year-old sister, and four children all younger than the age of 10 — spinning toward two other stopped vehicles at the eastbound intersection.

Somewhere after the first collision and before the second, Wi’karria Walls, Greene’s daughter, landed on the hood of one of the other two cars involved before rolling over on the pavement and sustaining a gash on her forehead. Greene said her daughter’s gash required 16 stitches.

Greene said her 7-year-old son, William Walls Jr., was not ejected, but sustained neck and head injuries while being bounced around.

Both children were transported to Miami Children’s Hospital.

“At first, I didn’t even know where Wi’karria was,” said Greene, who was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic, operating with a suspended license, no proof of insurance and for not having a child-restraint seat properly equipped.

“Her shoes were in the middle of the street. I kept looking for her as I unbuckled my other kids. I didn’t know how bad she was hurt until I found her across the street and wiped her face with my shirt. That’s when I saw the hole and all the blood. It was a mess.

“They were telling me depending on how fast it heals she may require cosmetic surgery.”

According to the accident report, Henderson and Greene were not suspected or tested for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The crash took place around 12:45 p.m. on a sunny afternoon.

“All I remember was white smoke,” Greene said. “I didn’t even see him.”

Henderson was accompanied by a passenger, who identified himself as Chris Humphrey of South Bay. Reports show Humphrey shares an address with the car owner, Wilson.

Humphrey was not injured, according to the report.

Henderson sustained injuries to his neck, head and mouth and was transported by ambulance to Miami Jackson South, according to the report. The driver’s side airbag in the Impala wasn’t deployed and is likely the reason Henderson was injured.

Henderson, cited for driving with an expired license (it expired on July 24, 2012, according to the report), driving without his license and running a red light, said Saturday he has a mild concussion.

“He came to the ambulance because the bridge of his nose was busted,” Greene said of Henderson. “The side of his mouth was, too.

“My daughter was strapped on the board and shaking, and when he saw her he was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Don’t tell me this happened.’ This is something that stays with somebody for a while.”

Henderson, who left for Minnesota two days after the accident to attend the funeral of a friend, has yet to practice in pads with the Hurricanes.

The former USA Today National High School Offensive Player for 2009 was expected to be the team’s starting right tackle this season.

UM coach Al Golden told WQAM 560 on Monday morning Henderson will be returning home to Minnesota again this week to attend another funeral, this time of a family member.

“We’re trying to get him back,” Golden said. “He’s 12 practices behind, which is difficult.”

Miami Herald sportswriter Susan Miller Degnan and director of information Monika Leal contributed to this report.

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