National Football League

Safe ride advocate Neal accused of DUI

Published Jul. 5, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Four-time Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal on Wednesday attempted to downplay reports that he was arrested during the Fourth of July holiday for driving under the influence.

According to police cited by KFSN-TV, Neal, who now works for a drunk driving prevention program, was arrested for DUI Monday after veering his truck off the road and hitting a pole in Fresno, Calif.

The 40-year-old had just left a golf course where he had a few drinks when he swiped a utility pole while attempting to make a right turn at an intersection many drivers misjudge, California Highway Patrol officers said.

"[Neal] just ran off the road, struck a pole," officer Axel Reyes said. "Nothing real major about it. Luckily, he didn't hit anyone and no one else was with him as a passenger.

"A basic field sobriety test determined he was driving under the influence and then he was placed under arrest."

As Neal's blood alcohol content was only a couple of points over the legal limit of 0.08 and nobody was injured, Neal was released and no charges have yet been filed.

But Neal attempted to downplay the incident Wednesday, saying on one radio show he was not arrested but merely cited.

"For the record I did not get arrested I did not go to jail," Neal also wrote on his Twitter account. "That's how rumors get started. But I do take full responsibility for my actions!"

Neal played the last of his 16 NFL seasons in 2009 with the Oakland Raiders and now works as the chief information officer of Safe Rides Solutions, a professional driver service and DUI prevention program operated by law enforcement professionals.

The company's website says, "Lorenzo feels drinking and driving is a major problem and affects people from all walks of life and all segments of society."