Civil Suit Filed Against Miami Heat Player After Hitting Man With Car, Causing Leg Amputation
Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith, 27, is potentially in serious legal trouble, stemming from a car accident on Feb. 7 after ‘barreling’ into a man on the side of the road as Highsmith drove home from a game.
Alekxei Pino, a 21-year-old Miami resident, filed a civil suit against Highsmith, blaming the player's reckless driving for injuries he suffered, including an above-the-knee amputation procedure while Pino was in critical condition.
Police cited Highsmith for "careless and negligent" driving at the scene, as reported on OutKick.
MIAMI - Haywood Highsmith of the Miami Heat. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Alekxei Pino's GoFundMe
Highsmith's vehicle struck Pino as the latter assisted a woman with a broken-down Toyota 4Runner that evening, around 11:45 p.m., ET.
Highsmith was traveling over the speed limit — going 45 mph in a 40 zone — in an Audi A5. Highsmith was on his way home that Tuesday night following a contest between the Heat and Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center. The NBA player hit the ‘Good Samaritan,' leading to numerous medical procedures, including amputation. Details from the scene note that Highsmith had not been intoxicated at the time.
A statement from the Heat acknowledged Highsmith's incident. He sat out the subsequent game for the Heat but returned to play three games before the start of the All-Star break.
READ: Haywood Highsmith Went Over The Speed Limit, Drove 'Carelessly' In Postgame Car Crash
The Miami Heat shared "Our hearts go out to those who were injured. We have no further comment at this time."
Pino remains in the hospital, as of Tuesday's reporting. His family set up a GoFundMe for the young man, raising $28,000 in two weeks. The page's description shared more of the victim's perspective leading up to the incident with Highsmith.
"On the evening of February 7th, Alekxei Pino demonstrated his innate kindness and selflessness," the GoFundMe page reads. "On his way home from work, he noticed a woman stranded on the side of the road with a broken-down vehicle, less than 10 minutes away from his own residence. …
"The aftermath of the accident has presented Alekxei with challenges he never anticipated. He now faces the daunting task of rebuilding his life after losing his right leg—an irreversible loss that will forever alter his life. Additionally, he has endured a fractured left leg and a dislocated left shoulder, further complicating his journey to recovery."
Follow along on X:@AlejandroAveela