Al Blades, former UM and NFL safety, dies in car crash

MIAMI (AP) — Former University of Miami and San Francisco 49ers safety Al Blades was killed early Thursday after the vehicle he was riding in crashed into a bridge and plunged into a canal, police said.
Blades was a passenger in a 1999 Mazda when the driver, Martel Johnson, 26, lost control of the car at about 2 a.m. Thursday, police said. Witnesses told police that the Mazda was racing another car when the driver lost control.
Johnson died at the scene. Blades, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday, was transported to Parkway Regional Medical Center, where he died, hospital spokesman Drew Landmeier said. Authorities were trying to find the driver of the other car.
‘‘The University of Miami is deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our former football players, Al Blades,’’ Miami coach Larry Coker said in a statement. ‘‘Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Blades family.’’
Blades played for the Hurricanes from 1996-2000 and considered the vocal leader of Miami’s secondary during much of his career. He was named to the All-Big East Conference first team in 2000.
Blades signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers and spent two years on their roster. His brothers, Bennie and Brian, also played for the Hurricanes and the NFL.
Blades is the second former Miami player to die in a car crash in a little more than a year. Linebacker Chris Campbell died when his car hit a tree in Coral Gables in February 2002.

 

that family's been so blessed, but it's also gone through so much. Wasn't one a murder suspect at one time?
That sucks,either way.

 

The Blades family seems to be cursed.

 

as fans of bobby phills can attest...street racing is a bad idea.

 

3

and since I never gave one for Bobby, 13.