Surveillance shows crash that killed basketball star Terrence Clarke

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Surveillance shows crash that killed basketball star Terrence Clarke
NBA draft prospect and former University of Kentucky guard Terrence Clarke has been killed in car crash in Los Angeles, with video showing him running a red light at speed before clipping a truck and slamming into a wall at an intersection.
The crash occurred on Thursday at 2:10pm on Winnetka Avenue in the northwest part of the city after Clarke, 19, had gone through a workout with his former Wildcats teammate and fellow NBA hopeful Brandon Boston Jr. in anticipation of the upcoming draft.
Clarke was driving his 2021 Hyundai Genesis at speed when he ran a red light, hit a car that was turning left and failed to stop before hitting a pole and a wall, LAPD said.
It is not yet known if Clarke intentionally ran the light or if his vehicle had suffered a mechanical failure.
The 6-foot-7 guard had not been wearing his seatbelt properly and was taken to Northridge Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.
The university announced Clarke's death in a release Thursday night, but did not include any more details.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said he was 'absolutely gutted and sick tonight' and called the player 'a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy.'
'We are all in shock,' Calipari said. 'I am on my way to Los Angeles to be with his mother and his brother to help wherever I can. This will be a difficult period for all those who know and love Terrence, and I would ask that everyone take a moment tonight to say a prayer for Terrence and his family. May he rest in peace.'
Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant John Matassa, who works in the Valley Traffic Division, said the truck driver did not claim any injuries.
Clarke entered the NBA draft last month after playing in just eight games last season because of a right leg injury. He averaged 9.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in his one season in Lexington.
Clarke was projected to be drafted in the second round of this year's draft, according to NBADraft.Net.
On Wednesday, Clarke and former teammate Boston Jr. signed with Klutch Sports Group.
He is survived by his parents, Osmine Clarke and Adrian Briggs, and his three siblings, Tatyana Gray, Gavin Clarke and Madison Adrianne, WKYT reported.
Agency CEO Rich Paul announced on Twitter that 'we are saddened and devastated' by Clarke's passing and called him 'an incredibly hard-working young man.'
From the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, Clarke started Kentucky's first six games and was one of its top scorers, highlighted by a career-best 22 points in a loss to Georgia Tech on December 6.
The injury ultimately sidelined him for the entire Southeastern Conference regular-season schedule, though he returned to post three assists and two points off the bench in the Wildcats' SEC Tournament loss to Mississippi State that ended a 9-16 season.
Despite his limited action, Clarke announced his decision to enter the NBA draft on March 19 and lamented in a release that he didn't expect to be injured. But he understood that it was 'part of the game' and thanked Calipari and teammates among many.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens heard reports about the crash and Clarke's death shortly after his team beat the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. Clarke was familiar to the Celtics, their players and even Stevens´ son.
'Not sure how much I want to talk about the game, when you consider he's a Boston kid ... those kids are important to us here,' Stevens said. 'I never met him. My son looks up to him. Hard to talk about a basketball game.'