Bolt unhurt after minor car crash

KINGSTON  — Usain Bolt was involved in a minor car crash shortly before dawn Sunday in his Caribbean homeland of Jamaica but is not hurt, according to the publicist for the world’s fastest man.

Carole Beckford said the three-time Olympic champion was returning from a party with friends in the early hours Sunday in Kingston.

“There were no injuries at all. He is fine and resting at home,” Beckford said.

Police in the Half-Way-Tree area where the accident took place say they are still investigating but it appears that the sprinting champ somehow lost control of his black BMW and swerved into guard rails shortly after 5 A.M. local time.

Fellow Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell was traveling in another car at the time and was at the scene of Bolt’s accident.

“My friend and countryman (Bolt) is ok after a fender bender,” Powell’s Twitter account said Sunday morning. Powell’s Twitter feed also dispelled rumors that he was also hurt: “Contrary to the news, I was in another car.”

Bolt and Powell had just returned to Jamaica after competing at the Diamond League meet in Norway. At that meet, Bolt recovered from a poor start to win the 100 meters in 9.79 seconds, beating Powell by 0.06 seconds.

It’s not the first time Bolt has been in a worrying car crash in Jamaica.
In 2009, Bolt crashed a BMW into a ditch along a highway. He required minor surgery on his left foot after stepping onto thorns while getting out of the wreckage. — AP