Alijah Arenas, a high USC recruit and Chatsworth Excessive basketball star, awoke from his coma after a severe Cybertruck crash early Thursday morning and has “shown significant signs of progress,” in keeping with a press release from his household shared with The Occasions.
Arenas stays intubated, however the son of former NBA participant Gilbert Arenas opened his eyes and was in a position to talk by writing on a bit of paper.
“He remembered the smoke,” the assertion learn, and requested, “Did anyone get hurt?”
Alijah Arenas misplaced management of his Tesla Cybertruck shortly earlier than 5 a.m. Thursday morning, placing a fireplace hydrant and tree. The mangled automotive caught fireplace whereas Arenas was nonetheless inside. Arenas was the one particular person injured throughout the crash.
A crumbled Telsa Cybertruck rests adjoining to a tree following a crash involving high USC basketball recruit Alijah Arenas.
(Handout)
The household stated Friday that “brave individuals” helped rescue Arenas from the burning automobile. An individual who assisted Arenas recalled listening to “banging on the car window, but I couldn’t see anything because the smoke was so thick,” the household assertion learn. “That’s when I realized someone was inside. I tried to break the window, but it wouldn’t give. Then I saw one of the windows was cracked just enough and we used everything we had to bend it to pull him out. The car was on fire. We just knew we had to get him out.”
The household counseled “this act of courage, along with Alijah’s incredible will to survive,” calling it “nothing short of miraculous.”
A video of the early-morning, post-crash scene, obtained by TMZ, confirmed Arenas mendacity face down on the street in just a few inches of water whereas the damaged hydrant sprayed water into the air. Within the background, an individual shouts at Arenas repeatedly to “wake up.”
Arenas was “stable” upon being taken to the hospital, in keeping with LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes. He was intubated and positioned in a medically induced coma, which is a typical step in treating extreme smoke inhalation.
Medicine and alcohol weren’t suspected to be an element within the crash, a supply with data of the crash investigation not approved to debate it publicly advised The Occasions.
The Cybertruck was nonetheless wrapped round a tree hours after the crash, with a “no parking” signal crumpled in between the automobile and the tree. The windshield was smashed, whereas remnants of a deployed airbag frolicked the motive force’s aspect window. Steel and plastic hunks have been strewn across the crash website.
After it was faraway from the scene, the Cybertruck burst into flames once more at a close-by tow yard, an individual with data of the incident not approved to debate it publicly advised The Occasions.
Arenas was joined on the hospital by his mom, Laura Govan; father, Gilbert Arenas; siblings; and prolonged household.
“The family continues to ask for the public’s prayers and support as their miracle baby fights his way back to full recovery,” the assertion learn, occurring to thank Alijah Arenas’ medical staff for “exceptional care.”
Arenas is a top-10 basketball prospect nationally and the crown jewel of USC’s 2025 recruiting class. He led Chatsworth to the CIF state championship sport. He leaves the college because the Metropolis Part’s all-time main scorer with greater than 3,000 factors.
Arenas, who gained’t formally be a part of USC till the summer time, was anticipated to play a major position for the Trojans subsequent season as a freshman.
Trojans coach Eric Musselman stated in a press release posted on social media Thursday that “our thoughts and prayers are with Alijah and his family following this morning’s accident. Please keep him, his teammates and friends, and the entire Arenas family in your prayers.”
Chatsworth college students had the day without work from college Thursday in observance of Armenian Genocide Memorial Day.
