C’mon! How does this happen?! One of your teammates just died as a result of a DWI crash. Athletes have so many options, yet decide to drive under the influence. I just can’t understand it. There is NO excuse.
Jay Ratliff was arrested and charged with DWI early Tuesday morning after he crashed his 2011 Ford pickup truck into a 18-wheeler. Report after the jump…
*Mug Shot above in gallery*
According to Calvin Watkins at ESPNDallas.com:
Ratliff and the driver of the tractor trailer were not injured, according to Grapevine, Texas, police senior officer Sam Shemwell.
Police arrived at the 2800 block of East State Highway 114 at 12:36 a.m. to investigate a crash. Police, according to Shemwell, upon an investigation of the crash, arrested Ratliff on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Ratliff was bonded out of a Grapevine jail on Tuesday morning.
Cowboys officials, in Mobile, Ala., watching practices for Saturday’s Senior Bowl, declined comment. Ratliff’s agent, Mark Slough, declined comment.
Ratliff, who was not available for comment, played in just six games in 2012 because of injuries. He underwent a sports hernia surgery in late December, ending his season. However, the Cowboys kept him on the active roster with the hope he would return in the playoffs, if the team had made it.
The Ratliff arrest marks the second time a Cowboys player has dealt with police officials regarding DWIs in the last several months.
