Dolphins’ Kendrick Norton at fault for accident that cost him his left arm; no alcohol or drugs involved, report says

South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL)

Jul. 11--Miami Dolphins player Kendrick Norton was at fault for a two-car accident last week that resulted in the amputation of his left arm, ending his football career, according to a Thursday crash report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

Norton was issued a citation for an improper lane change of his 2017 Ford F250, which crashed into the right side of a 2015 Maserati before it slammed into a concrete barrier and overturned onto its roof.

While no tests for alcohol or other drugs were administered, investigators determined Norton and his passenger, a 34-year-old woman named Shakir Williams, were not suspected of alcohol or drug use.

Norton and Williams, however, were not wearing seatbelts during the incident, which occurred around 1:18 a.m. on July 4 on the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) westbound ramp, leading to the Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826).

Both Norton and Williams were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in Miami after the accident.

Investigators were unable to determine if Norton was distracted before the accident occurred.

Investigators said the other driver, Jessie Pena, a 30-year-old woman from Miami, was also not suspected of alcohol or drug use. Pena and her passenger in the Maserati, Osdany Jimenez, a 38-year-old man from Miami, were not injured after the incident.

A GoFundMe page created for Norton this week as raised more than $12,000, with a goal of reaching $150,000 to help with life expenses. The NFL said Tuesday it would cover all of Norton's medical expenses.

Norton's representation, First Round Management, said Norton has already had three surgeries and could require at least two more before he can proceed toward having a prosthetic arm.

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Norton, who currently remains on the Dolphins' 90-man roster, was scheduled to earn $495,000 in salary this year if he made the team's 53-man roster.

He likely will be placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, which would give the Dolphins the option of paying his salary or not paying it. League rules allow teams to pay salaries for players with non-guaranteed contracts if they choose to.

Keeping Norton on the NFI list makes him eligible to remain on the Dolphins and the NFL's health insurance plan, while he rehabilitates his injuries and receives occupational therapy.

Norton, who played three seasons at the University of Miami, joined the Dolphins last December. He left UM early and was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. He spent all of last season on the Panthers' practice squad before Miami claimed him in December, but he didn't play in any NFL games last season.

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