http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0114/1492838.html DALLAS -- Cowboys reserve defensive back Dwayne Goodrich surrendered to police Tuesday night on felony charges in a hit-and-run accident that killed two people and injured two others. Police said Goodrich was the lone occupant of a car that allegedly slammed into a wreck site at an estimated 110 mph earlier Tuesday on a North Dallas freeway. Two motorists who were trying to rescue a man from a burning car were struck and killed. Goodrich faced two manslaughter charges and was booked into Lew Sterrett Justice Center, where he was held in lieu of $50,000 in bonds, Sgt. Hollis Edwards told reporters at Dallas police headquarters. Goodrich posted bail and left the jail Wednesday around 2:15 a.m. local time, the Dallas Morning News reported. A magistrate had earlier set bonds of $25,000 each for the second-degree felony warrants. Goodrich had first talked with police Tuesday afternoon, his agent said. Edwards said Goodrich returned to surrender at 10:45 p.m. "He turned himself in today and told them what happened. He's devastated. It was a tragic accident," Goodrich's agent, Stephen Zucker, told The Associated Press late Tuesday. Dallas County Sheriff's Department spokesman Don Peritz said Goodrich was to be arraigned in a process that could take several hours. Police said a car clipped a tractor-trailer rig and caught fire about 2:15 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 35 in North Dallas. As a rescue attempt began for those in the burning car, a luxury car came speeding through the scene at a high rate of speed. Officers said the driver tried to swerve between the disabled vehicles but hit several people, two of whom were killed. Senior Cpl. Diana Watts, a Dallas police spokeswoman, said the driver of the flaming car escaped without major injuries. A passenger from the burning car was trying to help the driver out, as were two other motorists that came from across the highway. "While they were doing that, a gray BMW struck all three of them," Watts said. She said the driver tried to weave around the disabled vehicles but could not avoid hitting the rescuers. The dead were identified as Joseph Wood, 21, and Demont Matthews, 23, who were struck by the BMW after they pulled off the freeway to assist the burning car. The speeding BMW dragged Matthews 155 feet, according to the police report. He died at the scene. Wood died later in the morning. Zucker said he last talked to the 24-year-old defensive back by telephone Tuesday night. Zucker declined to discuss the accident. "I don't want to get into that. It'll all come out later," Zucker said. Goodrich was the Cowboys' top pick in the 2000 draft, taken 49th overall out of Tennessee in the second round. But he hasn't been a significant contributor for the Cowboys through his first three seasons. After straining his left hamstring during the 2000 preseason, Goodrich didn't make his NFL debut until playing special teams in the ninth game of the season. He played in five games as a rookie, seeing his only action on defense in the season finale. Goodrich missed the entire 2001 season after tearing his right Achilles' tendon during training camp. Last season, Goodrich played in 11 games, including his only NFL start Dec. 21 against Philadelphia. He just completed the final year of his contract. At Tennessee, Goodrich was the defensive MVP of the 1999 Fiesta Bowl after returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown in the Volunteers' 23-16 victory over Florida State that won the national championship. Goodrich was arrested in September 1999, during his senior year at Tennessee, on a charge of disorderly conduct. Those charges were later dropped, but Goodrich conceded that he was "drinking too much." "We were informed on Tuesday of this tragic situation. It is a police matter, and we will continue to monitor the developments," said Calvin Hill, coordinator of the Player Assistance department for the Cowboys. "We are deeply saddened for the families who have experienced the loss of life." Mark Reiland, 44, of The Colony was among the witnesses to the crash. "The driver door was open, and three or four people were trying to get the guy out of the burning car," Reiland told the Morning News in Wednesday's editions. "The hit-and-run driver literally fit through there like an hourglass or something and pushed the car out of the way as it went." The other rescuer suffered a broken leg. Police said there were no skid marks to indicate the BMW's speed or that it tried to stop
I wonder how they settled on 110 mph as the vehicle's speed. I don't know that I can tell how fast a car is going while I'm sitting still on the road, certainly can't with any accuracy (I would have a hard time telling the difference between 110mph and 80mph). There weren't any skid marks, etc. that could be used to determine the speed of the car. Unless someone was pacing him, I don't know how anyone could know how fast he was going (and I don't know that it's important. These people would likely be just as dead if he was going 65.) Horrible story. Two people's lives cut short because of something so stupid (and Goodrich's life has certainly taken a turn for the worse now, too).
Looks like the State pen football team just got a lil stronger. What a smuk driving 110, and there was no signs of braking? Give him the max.
He's sorry? What a prick! Driving 110 MPH doesn't give you time to be sorry. I would be surprised if he doesn't get the maximum jail time. That is inexcuseable. You don't have time to make correct decisions or miss anything at that speed. I hope the Cowboys waive his ass, too.
The sad thing is that he should have been waived earlier in the season. There are going to be some classless people that will say ... Same old Cowboys ... however I think that takes away from the fact that two people lost their lives. The two guys that lost their lives need to be comended as heros. They were in process of pulling a guy from a burning wreck when they were hit. They didn't have to stop and try to save that guy's life but they did. My prayers go out to the family of the guys that lost their lives as well as Dwayne Goodrich's family.
What do you mean who cares. Two people were killed, I'm sure their families care. Your comment has to be one of the most classless things I have ever seen anyone on this board say. I certainly hope you don't believe in carma because you just unleashed quite a bit of bad carma on yourself.
Speaking of that, the reaction of the families has truly been amazing and inspirational. Dallas needs to do something to honor these heroic men.
This is my question, How do you drive between two cars that are so closely parked together that you clip one going 110MPH. He couldn't have been going that fast the way the accident is describe. He would have lost control.
BTW, What's up with Tennessee players and fatal accidnets? Does anyone remember Leonard Little, drafted by the Rams, killing someone while DWI. He is still playing but I don't think its with the Rams.
