Ex-Michigan QB Denard Robinson falls asleep at wheel, crashes car into pond

Current Jacksonville Jaguars running back and former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Sunday morning and had to climb out of a sinking car, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Nobody was injured in the accident at 4:20 AM ET on Sunday.

The responding officer arrived at the pond near Beach and Southside boulevards about 4:20 a.m. after the crash was reported and noticed both people inside appeared to be asleep, according to the report. The driver’s side of the car was submerged in the pond, so the officer approached the passenger side and knocked on the window to wake the two up, according to the report. The report said Robinson then “opened his eyes and then went back to sleep.” The officer continued to knock on the window until the passenger, 29-year-old Marissa O. Staples of Cincinnati, said “what’s up,” according to the report. The officer explained the car was in a pond and they needed to get out. Staples attempted to roll the window back up but the officer was able to reach in and unlock the door, according to the report. Staples had to be pulled from the car because she refused to exit, according to the report, and Robinson was asleep the whole time. After removing the passenger, the officer was able to wake up Robinson, turn off the car and remove his seat belt, according to the report. Robinson thought he was still on the road and didn’t want to exit the vehicle, according to the report. He tried to open the driver’s side door about three times after the officer repeated that the car was sinking in the pond, according to the report. The door was submerged and Robinson eventually got out of the vehicle through the passenger’s side, according to the report.

Neither person was injured in the accident and they refused assistance from rescue workers. Authorities determined that Robinson was not impaired and should not face a DUI charge. No citations were issued.

"The team is aware that running back Denard Robinson was involved in a single-car accident over the weekend and is thankful that nobody was injured,” the Jaguars said in a statement.

Robinson ran for 4,495 yards and passed for 6,250 yards during his four seasons with Michigan. He combined for 91 touchdowns, while throwing 39 interceptions. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Throughout three seasons in the NFL, Robinson has scampered for 914 yards and five touchdowns.