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Veteran Storm Player Samuels Injured In Crash

Photo by Kevin Howe

Lawrence Samuels, right, holds the Arena Football League record for most catches with 1,020.

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TBO.com

Published: October 23, 2008

Updated: 10/23/2008 11:52 pm

Lawrence Samuels, who broke Arena Football League receiving records during his 14 seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm, was hospitalized Thursday night after his vehicle crashed in Pasco County, team officials said.

Samuels, 38, was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center and was in stable condition as of 10 p.m., said Storm spokesman Jim Robinson.

Robinson said the Storm organization's "prayers and thoughts go out to him and his family."

The crash occurred about 5:15 p.m. on SR 52 and Quail Ridge Drive, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Samuels' Chevrolet sport utility vehicle and three others were involved in the wreck. Samuels' 2-year-old son, Wilson, was riding in the SUV and was not hurt, the highway patrol said.

This is how the crash happened, according to the highway patrol:

A 2006 Infiniti SUV driven by Michael Postlethwaite, 53, collided with a 2007 Cadillac stopped at the intersection of S.R. 52 and Quail Ridge Drive.

The Cadillac, driven by Christopher Brady, 33, of Spring Hill, was pushed into the westbound lane of S.R. 52 where it was struck by an oncoming vehicle driven by Jonathan Haworth.

Hawthorne's vehicle spun when its front left axle was torn off and its rear end swung into the path of Samuels' SUV. Samuels' Chevrolet struck Hawthorne's vehicle then veered right and struck a tree on the shoulder of the highway.

Brady was taken to Spring Hill Regional Hospital with minor injuries. Haworth, Postlethwaite and Postlethwaite's 7-year-old son, Austin, were not hurt.

The road was closed for more than two hours as authorities investigated and cleared the scene.
Samuels, who lives in Wesley Chapel, holds the Arena Football League record for most catches with 1,020.

He is currently a free agent, Robinson said, and the Storm were trying to re-sign him to play a 15th season with the team before the free-agent signing period ended.

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