Carolina Panthers LB Shaq Thompson, former Duke QB Anthony Boone involved in two-car accident

Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson was involved in a two-car accident with former Duke quarterback Anthony Boone on Sunday morning.

According to a State Highway Patrol official, Thompson was traveling south on Potter Road near Weddington at 7:45 a.m. Sunday and driving left of center. Thompson told troopers he dropped his phone on the floor board of his 2016 Chevrolet SUV and reached down to pick it up, causing him to cross the center line.

Boone, driving a 2004 Lexus SUV, swerved left to avoid Thompson. But Thompson pulled back toward the right and the two collided head-on, according to the incident report.

Boone is hospitalized with hand and hip injuries, according to Sgt. Ben Miller of the State Highway’s Union County division. He said Boone was not wearing a seat belt.

Miller said Thompson, who was wearing a seat belt, also sustained injuries but declined treatment.

Thompson was cited for driving left of center but not arrested.

Alcohol was involved but was not deemed a factor in the accident. Miller said a breathalyzer test showed Thompson had alcohol in his system, but “was well below the legal limit” of .08. Miller would not specify what Thompson’s blood-alcohol level was but said Thompson also passed field sobriety tests.

“He had some residual left over from the night before, but nothing where it was impairing or anything like that,” Miller said.

Thompson had no visible injuries from the accident on Monday. He attended and played in Mike Tolbert’s golf tournament at Ballantyne Country Club Monday morning.

“Shaq informed us he was involved in a traffic accident and we are in the process of gathering more information,” Panthers spokesman Ryan Anderson said in a statement.

The Panthers drafted Thompson with the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He started 10 games last season at outside linebacker.

Though both have North Carolina football ties, the two apparently do not know one another.

Boone starred at Weddington High before going to Duke in 2010. He became the full-time starter for the Blue Devils in 2013 and finished his career with the most wins (19) of any quarterback in Duke history.

Boone went undrafted in 2014 and signed with Lions before being cut. He played for the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes in 2015 and was cut from the team this month.

In December, Boone joined the quarterback training group QB Country and was announced as the head of QB Country Charlotte’s training and operations.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 11:44 AM with the headline "Carolina Panthers LB Shaq Thompson, former Duke QB Anthony Boone involved in two-car accident."