Details emerge from bike accident that paralysed NBA giant Shawn Bradley

Details have begun to emerge from the horrific accident that left former NBA centre Shawn Bradley paralysed.

Bradley was just a block away from his St George, Utah, home when a car hit him and drove him into a parked car, according to a police officer’s report obtained by USA Today.

The driver of the Dodge van that hit Bradley told police she gave him plenty of room.

“V1 (vehicle one) driver looked into their rear view mirror as they passed V2 (a Saturn) and saw the cyclist flipping through the air and landed on their back,” the report read.

“The cyclist had impacted the driver side rear bumper of V2 after which the bicycle and cyclist travelled along the top of the trunk and the cyclist continued along the side of V1 causing scratches and several dents to V2.”

Bradley told police that he saw a car parked to his right and was preparing to pass it when the Dodge made contact with him.

GPS information police obtained found that Bradley was never going more than 22.5km/h and was going even slower at the time of the crash.

Shawn Bradley last played for the Dallas Mavericks. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /AllsportSource:Getty Images

At 229cm, Bradley was one of the tallest players in NBA history. (Photo by Jon SooHoo/NBAE via Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

Bradley, who played for the 76ers, Nets and Mavericks during his career and is now 49, suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury.

The No. 2 pick in the 1993 NBA Draft has undergone neck fusion surgery and has been in the hospital for the past two months rehabbing his injury.

While he does not plan to provide further updates on his health journey, Bradley expressed a want to use the incident to “bring great public awareness to the importance of bicycle safety”.

The 12-year NBA veteran led the NBA in blocks during the 1996-97 season with the Nets and had a co-starring role in the 1996 movie Space Jam.

Shawn Bradley scrambles for the ball with New York Knicks centre Patrick Ewing. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)Source:AP

The Dallas Mavericks released a statement last week about the incident.

“We are saddened to hear of Shawn’s accident,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. “Shawn has always been incredibly determined and shown a fighting spirit. We wish him nothing but the best in his recovery. He will always be a part of our Mavs family.”

— New York Post

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