International Davies stable after fatal crash

United States international Charlie Davies is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery following a car crash in the early hours of yesterday morning which left a female passenger dead.

The 23-year-old, who plays his club football for French Ligue 1 side Sochaux, was involved in the one-car accident on the George Washington Parkway in Northern Virginia.

Davies was one of three people in the car, which was split in two by the force of the impact. US Park Police identified the dead woman as 22-year-old Ashley Roberta, of Phoenix, Maryland.

A statement on www.ussoccer.com confirmed Davies had been taken to the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. to treat his injuries, which are set to sideline him for between six months and a year.

Davies suffered a lacerated bladder and fractures to the tibia and femur bones in his right leg. He also suffered facial fractures and a left elbow fracture.

"Davies was air-lifted to the hospital where a team of doctors first repaired a ruptured bladder and then inserted titanium rods in both the tibia, the bone in the lower leg, and the femur, which is the thigh bone, with no complications," the statement added.

"Davies will be hospitalised for at least a week and additional surgeries will be required to stabilise his left elbow fracture and possibly the facial fractures."

US Soccer physio Dr Dan Kalbac added: "Injuries of this nature usually require a recovery period of six to 12 months and extensive rehabilitation.

"Due to Charlie's fitness level, his prognosis for recovery and his ability to resume high-level competition is substantially improved."

Davies is in Washington, D.C. with the national team as the squad prepares for its final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium on Wednesday.

Davies, who has scored four goals in 17 international appearances, started the USA's 3-2 win over Honduras on Saturday which secured Bob Bradley's side a place at next summer's finals in South Africa.

"As a team, we were saddened to learn this news," Bradley said in a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and Charlie's family as well as the others involved. It hit us all hard."