A woman was charged with vehicular homicide after speeding, losing control of her car, and crashing into a Memphis home. On Tuesday, prosecutors said a former college and pro basketball player was found dead in the house.
The Shelby County district attorney’s office said Galen Young, who was inside the house when the crash occurred on June 5, died. Miracle Renee Rutherford, 19, was indicted for his death. Investigators said that at about 2:45 a.m., Rutherford was speeding when she lost control of her car, went airborne, and crashed.
Initially, no injuries were reported. Her adult son was not home at the time, said a woman in the house. She told police that her son lived there with her, investigators said.
Authorities said when family members arrived hours later to help remove debris from the crash site, the body of Young, 45, was discovered.
Young played high school basketball in Memphis and began his college career at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Young then played two years at UNC-Charlotte, where he led the 49ers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and earned All Conference-USA honors.
In 1999, the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks drafted Young. He played 13 pro basketball seasons in the Continental Basketball Association and abroad, including in Japan and Australia.
The indictment alleges Rutherford drove recklessly and created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Her lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday.
