Seattle Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman is an inspiring figure in the professional sports world. The 24-year-old Coleman — who made it to the NFL despite going undrafted out of UCLA — is the first deaf offensive player in NFL history. Deaf since he was three years old, Coleman has overcome extraordinary obstacles in his young life. A devout Christian, Coleman has risen further than most people gave him a chance to — he now wears a Super Bowl ring as proof.
Bellevue, Washington police say Derrick Coleman left the scene, on foot, of a hit and run car accident on Wednesday night — an accident that caused two vehicles to roll over. It’s shocking behavior that’s “absolutely out of character for who he is and how he would normally respond to a situation like that,” Coleman’s attorney, Stephen Hayne said. It’s a strange episode in Coleman’s feelgood story. The lawyer said Coleman “was clearly not in his right mind after the accident, and that would probably be due to a concussion,” admitting the concussion notion was speculation. Blood was drawn from Coleman to check for drugs or alcohol after he was found a few blocks from the scene of the crash. Results have not yet been released. In a video (below) that the attorney conducted with Coleman at the police station after the accident, Coleman asserts he is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Like his lawyer, people close Coleman trust there’s an explanation. The passenger of the other car was treated and released from the hospital.
