Leah Horner and Benjy Egel
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Cal Poly offensive lineman Marvin Abou has been suspended from the football team after being arrested Sunday for driving under the influence.
A number of passengers in the car were also members of the football team, though head coach Tim Walsh declined to disclose their names. No one was seriously injured in the accident.
“The driver is definitely suspended until the investigation is complete,” Walsh said.
The crash occurred on Loomis Street at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Abou lost control of the 2004 Jeep Wrangler, causing it to overturn and hit an unoccupied and parked 1997 Lexus sedan, according to The Tribune.
Theatre senior Matt Catalano woke up to the crash outside of his house early Sunday morning. He ran outside thinking his truck had been hit, then saw the Jeep on its side with the driver and front-seat passenger still inside.
“They couldn’t get out; the door was jammed. They looked pretty bruised and bloodied,” Catalano said. “We went inside and grabbed a couple knives … and we cut open the canvas part (of the Jeep), got them out and set them on the sidewalk.”
Catalano said he saw four passengers in the car, which contradicts other media reports saying there were only two.
Though Catalano helped Abou out of the Jeep, he couldn’t tell whether the offensive lineman was intoxicated or just suffering from a concussion.
“He definitely seemed very concussed, wasn’t quite sure about his surroundings,” Catalano said. “If you’re concussed, you’re definitely slurring your words … I’m not quite sure how to decipher the two.”
Cal Poly is beginning an investigation into the crash, according to university spokesperson Jay Thompson. If evidence is found that Abou violated school conduct, a formal hearing could occur to determine what actions should be taken against him.
Bail was set at $100,000. According to the San Luis Obispo County Jail website, Abou is no longer in custody.