UNC QB Gio Lopez was in car crash days before season-opening loss

University of North Carolina starting quarterback Gio Lopez was involved in a car crash and taken to the hospital days before the Tar Heels’ season-opening loss against Texas Christian University, according to a crash report obtained by WRAL. 

A vehicle being driven by Lopez was struck on the morning of Aug. 26 by another driver, who was cited for failure to yield the right of way for the crash, according to the crash report, which was provided by the town of Chapel Hill. The vehicle Lopez was driving had been pushed into a guard rail at the intersection of US 15.-501 and N.C. 54, the report said. Both cars were undrivable after the crash, according to police. Lopez wasn't cited in the incident.

It was unclear whether the crash had any impact on his performance on the field in the 48-14 loss to TCU on Sept. 1. Lopez left the game with a back injury after the third-quarter fumble.

A UNC football spokesperson didn’t immediately provide a comment. Lopez’s father, Barney, declined to comment when reached by WRAL. 

Lopez was traveling at about 30 mph northbound on U.S. 15-501 when his vehicle was struck about 7:43 a.m. on Aug. 26, according to the crash report. The other vehicle, which was making a left onto N.C. 54, was traveling at an estimated 25 mph, according to the report. Lopez’s vehicle traveled 33 feet after impact. A witness on the scene corroborated the chain of events, according to the report.

Conacia Williams, who was cited in the crash, declined to comment. 

Lopez was transported to the hospital from the scene, according to Chapel Hill police.

Lopez, a transfer from the University of South Alabama, completed 4-of-10 passes for 69 yards in the loss to TCU. He threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and had a fumble that was also returned for a touchdown. 

He started the Tar Heels’ first four games, completing 42 of 67 passes for 430 yards. Lopez has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions. He also left the Tar Heels’ loss to UCF with an apparent leg injury.

Lopez was unable to practice during the team’s bye week late last month and couldn’t do much in the days leading up to Saturday’s game against Clemson, head coach Bill Belichick said. Max Johnson started at quarterback for UNC.

“We’ll see where he is going forward,” Belichick said after UNC’s 38-10 loss to Clemson. “We’ll evaluate it, if there’s anything to evaluate. I don’t know. We’ll see what his situation is this week.”

UNC (2-3, 0-1 in the ACC) plays at Cal on Oct. 17.