NFL wide receiver Rashee Rice will spend time behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday to two felony charges related to a high-speed hit-and-run crash that injured at least four people on a Dallas highway last year.
Rice, 25, admitted Thursday to two third-degree felony charges, including a collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. Rice was initially charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury. According to his attorney, Texas Sen. Royce West, the remaining charges were dismissed.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and North Richland Hills, Texas, native was driving a 2020 Lamborghini Urus SUV during rush hour on Central Expressway on March 30, 2024, when he “made multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic,” and collided with multiple vehicles.
Prosecutors said Rice was driving 119 mph just 4.5 seconds before the first impact, and then took “faulty evasive action” that caused a “chain reaction that affected multiple vehicles.”
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“After the collision, Mr. Rice failed to check on the welfare of the victims and fled on foot,” prosecutors said.
As part of his plea deal, Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and will spend 30 days in jail. Before the plea, Rice was also ordered to pay restitution to all of his victims for out-of-pocket medical expenses, totaling $115,481.91.
West said Thursday afternoon that the incident “scared Rice straight” and that he’s aware that someone could have been hurt more severely or even killed in the crash. West said that should Rice violate his probation, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Through his attorney, Rice released the following statement on Thursday.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart,” Rice said. “Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
NFL wide receiver Rashee Rice will spend time behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday to two felony charges related to a high-speed hit-and-run crash that injured at least four people on a Dallas highway last year. His attorney, Texas Sen. Royce West, held a news conference on Thursday sharing a statement from Rice.
It’s not immediately clear when Rice will spend his time behind bars. West said Rice will likely do his time in the Dallas County Jail and that they’ll work with the county to schedule the time around Rice’s NFL schedule.
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot commended Rice for warning others of the dangers of street racing.
“When someone with Mr. Rice’s public platform chooses to drive so recklessly, there is a responsibility to acknowledge the danger posed to others and take accountability,” said Creuzot. “A vehicle in the wrong hands can be as dangerous as any weapon. We are extremely fortunate that no lives were lost that day, and Mr. Rice is fortunate to have walked away unharmed. We hope he takes this as an opportunity to mature and leads by example moving forward. I wish him the best in making safer choices.”
High-speed crash on Dallas’s Central Expressway
In 2024, Dallas police alleged that Rashee Rice, then 23, and another driver identified at the time as 21-year-old Theodore Knox, were speeding along U.S. Highway 75 near University Boulevard in a Lamborghini SUV and a Corvette when they caused a chain reaction crash involving four other vehicles that was recorded on a witness’s dashcam video.
The dashcam video of the crash also showed the occupants of the high-end sports cars getting out of their vehicles and walking away.
“The occupants of the Lamborghini and the Corvette all ran from the scene without stopping to determine if anyone needed medical help or providing their information,” Dallas police said after the crash. “Two of the involved drivers were treated at the scene by Dallas Fire-Rescue for minor injuries and two occupants of another vehicle were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.”
Both Rice and Knox were charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.
Five days after the crash, Texas Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who represents Rice, gave a statement admitting his client told police he was driving one of the luxury sports cars involved in the crash.
Rice, who grew up in North Richland Hills and played college football at SMU before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023, issued a public apology on Instagram on April 4.
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Rice is facing at least two civil lawsuits related to the crash. In February, West was granted a legislative continuance in January so he could fulfill his duties in the legislature before any trial began. The Texas legislative session ran from Jan. 14 through June 2. Civil trials could be further delayed after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a 30-day special session beginning July 21.
Rice, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season. The wide receiver is expected to recover fully and be available for the 2025 season. Chiefs players report to training camp on July 21. West said Rice was expecting to report to camp on time.
The NFL has not yet said what punishment Rice will face from the league, but it’s expected he could face a multi-game suspension.