Dispatch audio obtained by The California Post on Sunday sheds new light on the severity of the car crash that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in earlier this month.
The audio revealed authorities were first alerted of the accident just after 6:13 p.m. on July 14.
One officer could be heard in the audio directing emergency personnel to an intersection near Shanahan’s home in Palo Alto, Calif., stating, “You’re responding to an accident at Alma St. and Hamilton Ave.”
“It’s going to be a black Tesla vs. a blue Mercedes,” the woman said. “There are reports of one driver bleeding from the head.”
Law enforcement eventually determined Shanahan and one other driver were involved and noted the San Francisco head coach had to be transported to a local hospital due to his injuries.
“There is no impairment suspected and both drivers remained on scene and were cooperative with the police,” Palo Alto Police Dept. spokesperson Lt. Nicolas Martinez said in a statement to The Post this weekend.
“No one was cited for the collision. There will be no information released regarding the cause of the collision or who was at fault.”
Shanahan sustained a broken nose and hand in the collision. He also fractured ribs, suffered a facial laceration that required 40 stitches, and was diagnosed with a concussion as well, according to ESPN.
Niners general manager John Lynch told reporters on Saturday Shanahan won’t be able to fully coach the team in training camp this summer as he recovers.
“Kyle basically is going to be like in the protocol,” Lynch said. “Doc [Anthony Saglimbeni] and all the great doctors we have are giving him great care, and we’re going to let you know [his] condition… the doctors dictate how he comes back, when he comes back.”
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster will act as interim head coach, “but it is going to be very much a collective effort,” Lynch added.
The Niners play their first game of the season on Sept. 10 against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
