Junior Seau, former football star, drives off cliff after arrest for alleged domestic violence [Updated]

Former USC and San Diego Chargers football star Junior Seau sustained unknown injuries Monday morning after the car he was driving plunged off a cliff in San Diego County.

The incident occurred after he was arrested in Oceanside on suspicion of domestic violence. An Oceanside Police Department spokesman said he could not comment on the case and that a statement would be released soon. He said his department was not investigating the accident.

The crash occurred in Carlsbad, south of Oceanside, when the sport utility vehicle driven by Seau, who also played for the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots, went over a beachside cliff.

The 41-year-old had been released from a San Diego County jail facility just before the crash.

[Updated at 11:14 a.m: Oceanside police released a statement detailing Seau's arrest, which occurred early Monday, at 12:20 a.m.

Junior Seau was arrested for the alleged assault of his ... live-in girlfriend. The victim reportedly sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment. On October 17, 2010 at 10:13 p.m. police were dispatched to the Seau residence on South Strand in Oceanside to investigate the report of a domestic violence assault. The 25-year-old victim reported that Junior Seau assaulted her during a verbal argument. Seau was not at the residence when police arrived.

Seau called the victim while police were on scene and spoke to the officers; he agreed to return to the home. Shortly after midnight Seau drove back to the scene and he was arrested without incident as he approached the residence.

Police said Seau was taken to the Vista Detention Facility, where he posted bail.]

[Updated at 11:45 a.m.: Officials told Fox 5 San Diego that Seau's injuries were not life threatening. He's being treated at Scripps La Jolla Hospital. As seen on Fox 5 helicopter footage, Seau's Cadillac SUV showed heavy front-end damage but no signs of having rolled.]

-- Andrew Blankstein

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Photos, from top: Junior Seau's SUV after it plunged off an ocean cliff. The cliff where the crash occurred. Credit: Fox 5 San Diego. See more photos here.

Comments

[eeebayou]

Was this a Seauicide attempt?

[Big Dude]

Junior- I hope you are not seriously injured and that you seek some help..A Fan...

[Maya]

Too bad! I guess that this guy had a guilty conscience!

[David]

Fight On bro! no woman is worth your freedom or your life...

[Neil]

This is just sad, all the way around. Sad, sad, sad.

[Tony B]

Probably texting or tweeting at the time of the accident. Most of the worst drivers I see on the roads have USC alumni license plate frames and that's usually the reason they're all over the road, sitting at a stop sign or green light, and oblivious to the world around them.

[Clint Bradford]

I hope psychiatric intervention occurs quickly - before this becomes more of a tragedy than it already is.

[MDWhite]

Wow..."plunged off a cliff". Sounds like Obama.

[Craigo]

Say Ouch!

[The Buzzer]

Find out what kind of car survived a cliff dive and then buy it!

[dwayne o]

He should be looked at by a neurologist immediately.

The hits to the head add up. Sounds like he is mentally ill.

[KG1]

No chick is worth this, dude.

[Cord Kirkpatrick]

Did he drive off the cliff on purpose or was it an accident?

[Justin]

Was this a suicide attempt?

[All Hallows Eve]

Good to read that he is ok. I hope it was an accident and not intentional.

She's 25, he's 41 ???

[Jim Townes]

I've heard many many NFLers have serious coping issues once they hang up the cleats.
that's why I never went pro!

[BIG GAME HUNTER]

I played with Jr. at USC. He is an awesome friend and I highly doubt he was involved in any DV.

[Martin Weiss]

God had mercy on him- remember, Junior, Jesus loves you, and He is merciful and forgiving if we confess and forsake sin!

[Reggie Bushwhacked]

Apparently he don't own the Oceanside Police unlike Rey-Rey.

[RaiderNation]

All kidding aside, this guy seemed like a stand up dude..my prayers are with you..it can never be as bad as to take your own life...im sure there are alot of people out there that would agree..

[Nlaru]

Ya mon, no good to hit woman... Dat make him a coward. Maybe woman deserved it, but still no good! Jus tell her go!

[chukmaty]

DV is no laughing matter, neither is attempting suicide. My prayers are with all of those involved. I hope Jr. gets consoling and gets it together. I cannot tell you guys how many time I hear about failed suicide attempts over really silly things like gf issues or paying the bills. As soon as family and friends realize the problem, it gets solved in like a day or two. Yet we as human being blow our situation out of proportion. One thing athletes have to deal with is the lack of comrades to have support them, they don't know who to turn to. I think military personnel have the same problem, except multiplied one hundred million times. So yea, make sure to support people even when you don't think they need it, you might be the only person there for them.

[geeegee]

I live close to this site and I think it would be near impossible to accidently drive off the cliff here.

[Pancho]

What a total dope. Good grief, with all that money, could he not find some other past time, other than roughing up some broad, and crashing his car. I guess that's why we call them dumb jocks. Oh well, he wasn't killing dogs. What a pin head.

[LOU]

too many hits to the head eventually take their toll.