National Football League

Cam Newton suffers two fractures in back in car accident

Published Dec. 9, 2014 12:58 p.m. ET

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was involved in a car accident on Tuesday in Charlotte. Team Director of Communications Charlie Dayton said Newton suffered two transverse fractures in his lower back and no internal injuries.

The Panthers released a statement: "Cam Newton is in fair condition and undergoing tests at Carolinas Medical Center and will remain there overnight for observation."

Newton was loaded into an ambulance after his car apparently overturned in the wreck. There are several tweets that captured images from the scene. FOX Sports Carolinas learned that Newton didn’t want to be transported and argued with police and medics about it.

Newton seemed to be in good spirits even after what appeared to be a gruesome wreck.

A truck that Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman Robert Tufano said Newton was driving was overturned on the roadway with debris scattered all over the street. The roof of the truck was caved in. Another car that appeared to be involved in the crash had front end damage.

The police were investigating how the crash happened on a bridge that crosses busy I-277 in the shadow of Bank of America Stadium, where the Panthers play.

The Observer spoke to a witness to the accident:

A witness, Tony Douglas, said he was walking on Church Street toward the Transportation Center when he saw a Buick sedan and the Dodge truck collide.

Douglas said the truck was heading south on Church and the sedan was crossing Church from Hill Street when they hit.

The truck flipped several times, he said, coming to rest on its passenger side. Douglas said he ran to the truck and saw the quarterback inside.

Afterward, he said, Newton “was alert. He was in pain.”

The Buick’s driver, writhing in pain on the sidewalk, told police that he was crossing Church Street when a truck “came flying down” the street and struck him.

As word of the accident spread online, NFL players started sending good wishes on social media. "Praying for (at)CameronNewton," Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck tweeted.

Newton has passed for 2,812 yards this season with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also has rushed for 425 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 4-8-1 record.

He threw three touchdown passes in Carolina's 41-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, his best game in nearly a month-and-a-half. He also broke a string of eight straight games with an interception.

The win put the Panthers back in the playoff hunt, one half-game behind the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints (both 5-8).

An Atlanta native, Newton led the Auburn Tigers to a national championship in 2011. Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and was inserted as the franchise's starter right away. He has missed only one game this season, the opener at Tampa Bay, due to an injury. Newton has one year left on his rookie contract after the Panthers picked up a $15 million option for 2015.

The Panthers repeatedly have said they view Newton as their franchise quarterback.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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