NFL

Lawsuit Claims Cowboys, Frisco Police Conspired After Elliott's 2017 Car Crash

The man involved in the crash filed a separate $1 million lawsuit in August 2018

The man involved in a January 2017 car crash with Ezekiel Elliott is suing the running back and the Dallas Cowboys for $20 million, alleging they conspired with Frisco police to "cover up the severity of the accident" so that Elliott could play in a divisional playoff game, according to a lawsuit amended Tuesday.

But dash camera footage released by the Frisco Police Department Wednesday shows officers taking statements from both drivers, collecting insurance information and repeatedly asking the drivers if they needed medical attention.

The lawsuit, which was initially filed by Ronnie Hill in August 2018, says the team and police worked together to help Elliott avoid going through the league's concussion protocol before an upcoming playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

Ronnie HIll, family photo.

"If anyone had actually reported the impact of the accident and had Elliott been examined he would have most likely been placed in concussion protocol and out for the Dallas Cowboys upcoming playoff game," the lawsuit says.

Elliott played in the game and carried the ball 22 times for 125 yards.

The city of Frisco said Tuesday the charge that they conspired with the Cowboys to cover up the crash's severity was false.

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The city said Elliott and Hill were both offered medical attention and refused. Neither man was transported to the hospital.

Footage from the scene shows an officer asking, repeatedly, if the drivers need medical help.

"I just want to check again, real quick, you guys are uninjured?" an officer can be heard asking.

The crash happened around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 near the intersection of Gaylord Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway as Elliott was on his way to practice at The Star. Gaylord Parkway runs along the east side of the Cowboys' practice facility.

The playoff game, which the Cowboys lost, was played the following Sunday.

According to the crash report, Elliott told officers he ran a red light and struck the passenger side of Hill's BMW 7 series.

The crash report described the damage to Elliott's SUV as "minor" and the damage to the front quarter panel of Hill's car as "moderate." The crash report said airbags deployed in Elliott's vehicle, but not in Hill's car.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The lawsuit alleges the crash caused $33,000 in damage to Hill's vehicle and ended up being written off as a total loss.

The lawsuit says Cowboys personnel arrived at the scene of the crash and spoke to Frisco police before "Hill even knew what was happening."

On dash camera footage, the Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown can be heard introducing himself. The officer is heard answering questions about the wreck and explaining that police needed Elliott's insurance information.

"If there's no insurance on it, then I'm probably going to have to issue warrants," the officer says.

Hill's lawyer, Larry Friedman, said Brown promised Hill the team would take responsibility.

"The accident took place right outside the Cowboys practice facility and one of the Cowboy representatives was on the scene shortly after the accident and advised my client that the Cowboys would take care of everything," Friedman told NBC 5 Wednesday.

He said his client suffered brain trauma and has been unable to work since the crash.

Hill filed a $1 million lawsuit in August 2018, at which time his lawyer told NBC 5 the money was to cover the cost of caring for injuries sustained in the crash.

The Cowboys were not named in the initial lawsuit.

A Dallas Cowboys spokesperson told NBC 5's Newy Scruggs Tuesday the team had no comment on the suit.

The city of Frisco issued the following statement Tuesday.

“The Frisco Police Department responded to and investigated the January 11, 2017 crash involving Mr. Elliott and Mr. Hill according to department policies and procedures. The petition alleges on 'information and belief' that the Frisco Police Department 'conspired' with the Dallas Cowboys to 'cover up the severity of the crash.' This allegation is false.

Both parties to the crash were offered medical attention and both refused. Emergency medical services were not requested by either party. Neither party was treated or transported.”

Read the full lawsuit below.

NBC 5's Meredith Yeomans and Newy Scruggs contributed to this report.

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