By AP/KWMU
Columiba, MO – Suspended University of Missouri basketball player Ricky Clemons is hospitalized in fair condition in Columbia after an ATV accident on Friday.
Clemons was at a Fourth of July party at the home of University of Missouri President Elson Floyd; he was driving Floyd's ATV when he lost control on a gravel driveway leading to Floyd's home, university police said.
Clemons is suspended from the basketball team for next season because of an incident involving a former girlfriend.
He had been staying at Reality House, a work-release center, while serving a 60-day sentence imposed June 13 for beating up a woman and holding her against her will at his apartment. He was not authorized to be away on Friday night.
A university spokesman says President Floyd was unaware that Clemons's presence at the party was in violation of the work release provisions.
Officials at University Hospital would not release details of Clemons' injuries, but Wally Bley, an attorney who represented the player earlier this year, told the Columbia Missourian that Clemons had a severe concussion, punctured lung and broken ribs.
Bley did not immediately return a message seeking comment Sunday.
The cause of the crash was being investigated, but alcohol was not suspected as a factor, university police Capt. Brian Weimer said.
Michael Princivalli, security director at Reality House, said Clemons had served slightly less than half of his sentence and had caused no problems.
Clemons was permitted to leave from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays only to attend university classes and related activities and was not authorized to attend the party, Princivalli said.
Princivalli said the facility had been unable to make contact Friday with Clemons after he signed out to attend a study group.
Russell said Floyd did not know Clemons was violating the rules of his work-release program.
Clemons was suspended from competing during the 2003-2004 season but will still have a year of eligibility if he returns.