For his involvement in a car crash that set a five-year-old girl to the hospital with life-threatening injuries in early February 2021, former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach, Britt Reid, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated on Monday afternoon.
In Missouri, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office filed a Class D felony against Reid, stating that he “operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and acted with criminal negligence by driving at an excessive rate of speed.’’
This means that Reid could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
The son of Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid surrendered to Kansas City police Monday afternoon and was released after posting a $100,000 bond. As part of his bond release, Reid was ordered not to consume any alcohol nor visit any establishments where alcohol is a primary item that is sold. He was also ordered to report to a dependency services clinic for pretrial supervision and will be subject to random drug testing and must use alcohol and GPS monitoring devices
The crash that Reid was involved in occurred on Feb 4, on the side of a highway entrance ramp close to the Chiefs’ training facility next to Arrowhead Stadium. According to police, Reid’s truck slammed into two other vehicles, injuring 5-year-old Ariel Young and another child inside one of the vehicles.
According to a problem cause statement form that was filed on Monday by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, analysis of the crash indicated that the 36-year-old former NFL assistant was driving 83.9 mph right before his Dodge Ram collided with the Chevy Impala and Chevy Traverse that were parked on the ramp. According to charging documentation, one of the cars had stalled due to a dead battery and a family member had arrived in a second vehicle to provide assistance.
After the crash, a test of Reid’s blood serum showed that his blood-alcohol level was at .113, which is .033 over the legal limit (.08), as per the probable cause statement. At the time of the crash, Police reported that Reid admitted to having “two or three drinks” along with the prescribed drug, Adderall.
In a statement, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peter-Baker said that Missouri Law limited the charges that could be brought against Reid given the evidence available, but said her office “will vigorously pursue these charges and Reid is not receiving any favorable treatment from Kansas City police or the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.”
Attorney Tom Porto, who is representing the Young family, said last month that 5-year-old Ariel suffered a devastating brain injury that left her unable to speak or walk. On Monday, Porto told the Kansas City Star that Young was released from the hospital on April 2 and is being treated at her home. She is being fed through a feeding tube.
Porto also told the Star the charges were “absolutely appropriate under the circumstances. The prosecuting attorney and police department engaged in an extremely thorough investigation that ended with the appropriate charge.”
Britt Reid was the outside linebackers coach for the Chiefs before the crash occurred. He was immediately placed on administrative leave afterward, and his contract was not renewed by the team. Also, he did not travel with the Chiefs to Tampa, Florida for Super Bowl 55, which Kansas City lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On April 2, the Chiefs hired former Philadelphia Eagles assistant Ken Flajole to serve as Reid’s replacement as the Chiefs coaching staff.
The Chiefs also said in a statement on Monday that the organization “remains steadfast in our concern for all who have been impacted by this tragic accident. Our prayers are focused on Ariel’s continued healing and recovery. The Chiefs are regularly in contact with the family’s designated representative during this challenging time.”
