A teenage San Antonio Spurs fan suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling from a moving vehicle while celebrating the team’s playoff win, according to reports.
The 17-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, is in critical condition and has been declared brain dead following the tragic incident, News 4 San Antonio reported.
The accident happened during celebrations after the Spurs’ Game 6 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
The win forced a decisive Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals, sending fans into the streets to celebrate.
According to relatives, the teenager was celebrating when he fell from a vehicle and struck his head.
He was first rushed to an emergency room before being transferred to another local hospital because of the severity of his injuries.
A police source told the San Antonio Express-News that the teen is brain dead and is not expected to survive.
The exact circumstances of the fall remain under investigation.
The San Antonio Police Department issued a statement expressing sympathy to the teen’s family and warning fans about the dangers of unsafe celebrations.
“The San Antonio Police Department extends our sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones affected by this tragic and preventable incident,” the department said.
Police also reminded the public that celebrations can quickly turn dangerous when traffic laws are ignored.
“This serves as an important reminder that public safety is a shared responsibility,” the department continued. “We encourage everyone celebrating to follow traffic laws, stay inside of your vehicles and follow directions from the officers who are there to keep everyone safe.”
The tragedy has cast a heartbreaking shadow over what should have been a joyful moment for Spurs fans.
San Antonio later defeated Oklahoma City to advance to the NBA Finals, where the team is set to face the New York Knicks.
But for one family, the celebration turned into an unimaginable nightmare.
