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Seahawks lift Derrick Coleman suspension, may play Thursday

UPDATE:  Derrick Coleman was released from jail at 3:32 p.m. Friday, according to jail records. Prosecutors are waiting for further investigation and toxicology reports. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday, Oct. 19, that Coleman's suspension was lifted and he might play Thursday against the 49ers. On Tuesday, the Seahawks announced that Coleman had been activated to the team's 53-man roster.

https://twitter.com/KIRO7Seattle/status/656585427671908352

ORIGINAL STORY: Seahawks fullback Derrick Coleman has been arrested on charges of vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run.

Coleman, 25, was arrested in Bellevue and will make his first court appearance Friday afternoon.

The crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 13600 block of Southeast 36th Street, according to the Bellevue Fire Department, who were called to the scene for a heavy rescue.  KIRO 7 News video showed a pickup on its side.

Bellevue fire said a passenger in the pickup truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the vehicle flipped on its side.
An image from Bellevue police showed another vehicle on its roof on a hillside above the crash.

King County Jail records show he was booked into the jail at 1:20 a.m. Thursday. His bail was listed as denied.

The Seattle Seahawks tweeted Thursday morning that Coleman has been suspended indefinitely pending further information.

Coleman's agent tweeted Thursday that he may have fallen asleep behind the wheel on the way home from the Seahawks facility in Renton Wednesday night. v

His attorney vehemently denied Coleman was on any substances Wednesday night and released a video of Coleman answering questions while under arrest to back this assertion. Attorney Stephen Hayne also explained why Coleman left the scene to a location two blocks away: “I can tell you he had a head injury.  He’s deaf, that’s well known, and he lost his hearing aids in the impact. I can tell you it was extremely shocking and confusing.”

However, Bellevue Police are skeptical and testing Coleman’s blood.

“There was enough evidence there that led up to lead us to believe drugs or alcohol could have been involved,” said the Bellevue Police Chief during a press conference.

Coleman, who is deaf, made the national spotlight during the Seahawks 2013 Super Bowl championship season. He was featured in a Duracell commercial for overcoming his disability and playing in the NFL.

https://twitter.com/JeffKIRO7/status/654710840260628481

Thursday afternoon, Coleman's agents, Derrick Fox and Mark Bloom, released the following statement:

On the evening of October 15, 2015, Seattle Seahawk Fullback Derrick Coleman, Jr. was involved in a two-car collision soon after leaving a team meeting.  While the facts of the case are still being determined, it seems  Derrick may have fallen asleep while driving home from a Seahawks’ facility.

The health and well-being of all involved is our primary concern, and we are thankful to report that both parties are expected to make a full recovery. We will continue to work closely with the local officials while a full investigation is being conducted.