DALLAS — A second lawsuit has been filed against NFL receiver Rashee Rice in his crash on U.S. 75 in Dallas last month.
The lawsuit, which alleges negligence on the part of Rice, is seeking more than $1 million and a jury trial.
The suit was filed in Dallas County District Court on April 4. A previous lawsuit named both Rice and SMU player Teddy Knox, who was also arrested in the crash. The latest lawsuit does not name Knox. Instead, a "John Doe" is listed as an additional defendant in the case.
WFAA reached out overnight to attorneys for both sides in the case and will update this story when and if they respond.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kamlesh Desai, who was driving a Toyota Sienna minivan on U.S. 75 when the crash happened.
The lawsuit alleges that Rice's crash caused a chain reaction that slammed into the Sienna. Dashcam footage from the crash shows one of the speeding vehicles crashing into the left rear of the Sienna, knocking the vehicle sideways.
Desai "suffered bodily injuries" that "may be permanent in nature," the lawsuit said.
A previous lawsuit filed against Rice and Teddy Knox alleged that two victims suffered multiple injuries, including brain trauma, lacerations and contusions, disfigurement and internal bleeding. That initial lawsuit is seeking more than $10 million.
Both Rice and Knox have been arrested in the case on multiple charges: Six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault. All of the charges are felonies.
Collision involving injury carries a maximum of penalty of up to five years in state prison.
Collision involving serious bodily injury – a third-degree felony – carries a maximum penalty of of not more than 10 years or less than 2 years in state prison. Aggravated assault – a second-degree felony – is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Rice, who went to SMU before getting drafted by the Chiefs, grew up in North Richland Hills in Tarrant County. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that Rice would participate in the team's voluntary offseason program beginning earlier this month.
Knox, a junior cornerback from Baton Rouge, La., has been suspended by SMU, the school told WFAA.