Jayson Williams Seen in Party Photos Before Allegedly Drunken Crash

Dude's car got a little dinged up.

[UPDATES BELOW] Former NBA player Jayson Williams was hospitalized with minor injuries earlier this morning after crashing his Mercedes-Benz SUV into a tree at the FDR exit at East 20th Street around 3:15 a.m. Though he hasn't been charged with DUI, police sources tell the AP they believe he had been drinking.

It appears that Williams may have tried to play it off as if he wasn't driving, because when first responders reached him, he was in the passenger seat. But because there was no one else with him, that ingenious ploy failed. Also, witnesses saw him in the driver's seat. Perhaps his bad-boy buddy Harvey crashed and hopped away?

UPDATE: An NYPD spokesman tells CBS that Williams was treated for a laceration to the forehead and refused a breathalyzer test. He's been charged with DWI. (We're still waiting for details on the extent of the tree's injuries.) Also, Fox 5 has "EXCLUSIVE!!!" video of Williams's damaged SUV. And the Star-Ledger notes that Williams is facing a second trial in the 2002 death of his limousine driver; he's accused of recklessly handling a shotgun that killed the driver at his estate, then trying to cover it up.

UPDATE 2: Please excuse the annoying watermark, but below is a photo of Williams supposedly taken late last night while partying with college kids at the Upper East Side bar Aces & 8s.

The website Stalking Steve Phillips says: "Our source claims to have seen Williams at Aces and 8’s drinking with a group of college kids. He was friendly and taking photos (more seen below.) Our source also claims that a member of his party purchased Williams at least 3 shots of Jameson." No, this really does not look too good. But maybe that's his "friend" who was actually "driving" the car? Also, the Post now reports that he fractured his neck!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on January 5, 2010 5:25 PM

Comments [rss]

joshuadog

The NJ Nets just signed the 'passenger' in Williams' car to a 2 year deal worth close to $179.99

MrManhattan

When will we be able to check the criminal records and driving records of these New Jersey miscreants at the boarder?

A New jersey license plate, drivers license or any other evidence of residency should be de-facto probable cause to stop and search.

openheads

Jayson Williams was born & raised in NYC.

He now lives in South Carolina, I believe.

Sorry..................

MrManhattan

Even New Jersey kicked him out (without even jailing him for manslaughter?)

Wow, how low can you go?

j0sh

What you are hearing is the sound of every talk show monologue writer on earth scribbling down some "should have had a driver"-related joke.

etypical

I have no doubt that "trees" were involved.

ilovejapgirls

where is his money coming from!!!!!

Clarice City

My dad always says "God protects assholes." He's right.

jimmycracks

Theres a huge problem with this article

Nets Star

these 2 cannot be combined and make any sense

NannyState

He really needs to improve his fade away.

JenChungsBaby

nice

MrCholly

Why is this asshole still roaming the streets, he should've been in prison years ago. This idiot can't even kill himself right. Please send him to prison he belongs there. He is a MENACE TO SOCIETY.

Wza

I feel sorry for his mother.

ed_Extinct

basketball is a bottom-of-the-barrel professional sport.

Spirit of 76

Yeah, unlike MLB, which is only rife with steroids and classy guys like A-Rod. Or the NFL, which has guys like Michael Vick. NHL, where fisticuffs are the main attraction. Or the PGA, where I think some other guy also crashed his SUV a little while back. Let's face it. Professional sports is a bunch of overgrown boys playing games for big bucks.

etypical

I still can't believe A-Rod got away with killing Kate Hudson. Oh wait...

Politburo

There is less than one fight in the average game of NHL hockey, and if you go to a random game, there is a less than 50% chance of a fight occurring.

If fighting is the main attraction, they're doing it wrong.

Spirit of 76

I guess they are. That must explain the very low popularity of the sport nowadays.

Guest

The low popularity is due to the fact that the NHL doesn't whore itself out everywhere like the rest of the professional sports in this country. There's more class, athleticism, and professionalism in one hockey player than in the MLB, NFL and NBA combined... except for Sean Avery (he's a punk).

asg749d

Wao -- talk about destiny pulling him closer to where he belongs...

buttface

BREAKING: Pro Sports Player Stupid

FJF

Why didn't he have a driver? Oh, wait...

Sketto

I'm starting to think he rather enjoys accidentally killing people. He seems to always be ready for it.

valeriob

Money can't buy class but you can get away with murder if you have enough of it. sigh.

mellow_fellow

That'll buff right out.

Mr. Shankly

Another Gothamist Mad Lib!

_______ crashes SUV into _____.

Wza

This guy is loco in the coco, insane in the membrane and all that good stuff.

potsmoker

theres trees on the FDR?

drunks in SUV's, not unusual.

but trees?

TT

too bad he killed his driver a couple years ago then he wouldn't have to worry about drunk driving

moocowtoo

He probably has one of those self driving SUV's.

Sassafras75

Jason Williams is a murderous,lying thug and the tree probably jumped in front of him to do the world a favor.

jaycjay

"Jason Williams is a murderous,lying thug"

That's a pretty common name, and those characteristics probably apply to some number of men named Jason Williams.

This guy, though, is Jayson Williams.

If you're going to rant about someone, you should get the person's name right.

Sassafras75

Thanks for the grammar check!!! "Jayson" Williams is a murderous, lying thug and the tree probably jumped in front of him to do the world a favor. I bid you good day.

jaycjay

Nothing to do with grammar, or even simple misspelling. If you misspell a word it often makes no difference. If you misspell a proper name you are often seemingly referring to a completely different person.

While the context on this page makes it clear who you mean, I wanted to make sure that your deserved criticism of Jayson Williams in other venues is properly attributed.

whitecastlerock

Good catch Jay! We don't want any mix ups between this criminal and ever so talented point guard known as "White Chocolate", Jason Williams.