Details emerge surrounding UTV crash involving Brian Hartline
COLUMBUS — More details have emerged following Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline’s UTV crash early Sunday morning.
According to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department’s initial report, obtained by Lettermen Row, Hartline admitted to medics that he had been drinking prior to a crash. Hartline, the driver of the UTV, was laying on the ground when deputies arrived at the scene of the crash. Another male, identified as Joshua Gaylor of Lewis Center, told law enforcement that he was partially ejected from the vehicle but did not know if Hartline was ejected.
He was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital. Hartline has since been released from the hospital.
Hartline’s sister made the 911 call to authorities. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department has not determined if a criminal offense occurred.
The initial report also says there was a strong smell of alcoholic beverages when the officer entered Hartline’s hospital room to interview him. Hartline was unable to be interviewed ‘due to medication administered by the hospital.’
There were no other witnesses to the crash, which happened on Hartline’s property in Powell. But Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye is listed as an ‘additional subject’ in the report.
This is a developing story. Lettermen Row will have more details when they become available.
Hartline was hospitalized following crash early Sunday morning
According to a report first from NBC4 and later confirmed by Hartline on Twitter, Hartline was involved in a side-by-side UTV accident on his property early Sunday morning. He was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital. The crash happened around 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning.
Hartline confirmed the news Sunday afternoon on his Twitter page.
“I appreciate everyone’s support,” he said in a tweet. “I crashed my side by side on my property and have been taken to the hospital for further evaluation. I am doing well.”
Ohio State also released a statement on the matter.
“Ohio State assistant football coach Brian Hartline and a friend, unaffiliated with Ohio State, were transported to Riverside Hospital early this morning with non-life threatening injuries sustained in an ATV accident on his property,” the statement said. “According to Hartline, he is hoping to be released from the hospital later this evening.”
Ohio State hosted its annual spring game on Saturday. Hartline is in his first season as the Buckeyes offensive coordinator, as well as his fifth season as the wide receivers coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in January following the departure of Kevin Wilson, who became the head coach at Tulsa.
He is widely viewed as the top wide receivers coach in the country and is routinely found on lists of the top assistant coaches in college football.
