Former Chiefs Coach Pleads Guilty In Crash That Seriously Injured Girl

Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid pleaded guilty Monday to felony driving while intoxicated resulting in serious physical injury stemming from a 2021 crash, which occurred when his pickup truck struck two stopped cars on an interstate entrance ramp and seriously injured a 5-year-old girl.

Reid, the 37-year-old son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, had been scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 26. Britt Reid had faced up to seven years in prison, but the plea deal means he now faces a possible sentence of up to four years in prison. He entered his plea in Jackson County Circuit Court in Kansas City. Sentencing is set for Oct. 28.

While questioning Reid to confirm that he understood the plea deal, Circuit Judge Charles McKenzie said Reid also could serve a short period of time in prison and then be placed on probation if he qualifies for good behavior.

Investigators said Reid was intoxicated and driving about 84 miles per hour when his Dodge truck hit the cars on an entrance ramp to Interstate 435, near Arrowhead Stadium, on Feb. 4, 2021. Reid's blood alcohol concentration was 0.113 at the time of the crash, according to police, which is above the 0.08 legal limit in Missouri.

Six people, including Reid, were injured in the crash. A girl inside one of the cars, Ariel Young, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. Referencing the 5-year-old's medical records, prosecutors said last year that Young's injury involved "a parietal fracture, brain contusions and subdural hematomas." An attorney for the family said earlier that she would "likely" suffer permanent brain damage.

In court Monday, Reid acknowledged he was drinking on the night of the crash.

"I really regret what I did," Reid said. "I made a huge mistake. I apologize to the family. I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brady Twenter, who is representing the state in this case, acknowledged Monday that the defense would likely seek a shorter sentence than the four-year prison term recommended, according to the Jackson County prosecutor's office. The judge will consider Twenter's recommendation of up to four years ahead of October's sentencing hearing, the office said.

Tom Porto, an attorney representing Ariel's family, said they opposed the plea deal. 

"The five victims of this crime are outraged the prosecuting attorney is not seeking maximum sentence allowable by law," Porto said. "The defendant is a prior offender whose actions caused a 5-year-old girl to be in a coma and seriously injured three others."

A Kansas City police officer who arrived at the scene of the crash reported he could smell alcohol and that Reid's eyes were bloodshot, according to court documents. Reid had a blood-alcohol level of 0.113 two hours after the crash, police said.

One of the vehicles he hit had stalled because of a dead battery and the second was owned by Ariel's mother, who had arrived to help.

The Chiefs reached a confidential agreement with Ariel's family in November to pay for her ongoing medical treatment and other expenses.

Reid underwent emergency surgery for a groin injury after the crash. The Chiefs placed Reid on administrative leave and his job with the team ended after his contract was allowed to expire.

This is not the first legal issue for Reid, who graduated from a drug treatment program in Pennsylvania in 2009 after a series of run-ins with law enforcement. His father was coach of the Philadelphia Eagles at the time.

Britt Reid's older brother, Garrett, served a two-year sentence in a Pennsylvania state drug program after he was arrested on drug-related charges. Garrett Reid was found dead in August 2012 in his dorm room at Lehigh University, where he was assisting at the Eagles' training camp. A coroner ruled that he died of an accidental heroin overdose.

First published on September 12, 2022 / 2:01 PM

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