Mookie Blaylock improves after crash, may face charges

• Former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock was responsible for a car crash Friday that left a woman dead
• Blaylock had been on life support after the crash
• Blaylock played 13 seasons in NBA%2C seven with Atlanta Hawks

JONESBORO, Ga. — Former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock, one of the best defensive-minded guards of his era, was upgraded to serious condition after the SUV he was driving Friday crashed and killed a passenger in another car in this Atlanta suburb.

Blaylock had been on life support for several hours after being airlifted from the accident scene, but he was off that Saturday morning and sedated following surgery for a broken ankle at Atlanta Medical Center. Friday, an Atlanta television report had shown Blaylock, his head bloodied, being carried on a stretcher at the accident scene.

When Blaylock is in condition to be interviewed by police, the former Oklahoma star, who played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1992 to 1999, could face vehicular homicide charges in the death of Monica Murphy. The accident happened Friday afternoon on Tara Boulevard, a busy four-lane highway 17 miles south of Atlanta in Clayton County.

Jonesboro police chief Franklin Allen told USA TODAY Sports there will be a discussion next week with the district attorney over charges for Blaylock, 46, who apparently lost control of his Cadillac Escalade, crossed the center median and collided head-on with the vehicle driven by Murphy's husband, Frankie, who broke an ankle. Allen said he believed Monica Murphy died from internal bleeding.

Blaylock lives on a six-acre property near Zebulon, Ga., about 30 miles south of the accident scene. Bryan Bennett, a brother-in-law of Blaylock who was at the house Saturday taking care of two of Blaylock's youngest children, said doctors operated in the morning on Blaylock's broken ankle.

Blaylock, who also played for the New Jersey Nets and Golden State Warriors over a 13-year NBA career, was an All-Star in 1994 while with the Hawks. The 6-0 guard averaged 13.5 points, 6.7 assists and 2.3 steals for his career. He made the NBA's all-defensive teams six times in the 1990s.

At Oklahoma, Blaylock helped the Sooners to reach the 1988 NCAA title game, where they lost to Kansas.

The two oldest of his five children, twin sons, play football for the University of Kentucky. Blaylock, at present, does not have a full-time job, Bennett said, but is living comfortably off his savings from his NBA days.

Blaylock also is in line to face charges for driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain control of the vehicle, Allen said.

Allen also said there was an outstanding warrant in Spalding County for Blaylock for failure to appear on a DUI and drug charge. There were no indications alcohol or a high rate of speed was a factor in the accident. Allen said Blaylock previously had been under a doctor's care for seizures.

Bennett said Blaylock had one such seizure recently, with paramedics called to his home down a winding driveway in rural Pike County. It's a home Bennett's sister and Blaylock have lived in for 13 years.