Son of ex-NBA star and USC basketball commit, placed in coma after crashing Cybertruck

[ModelAZ]

https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2025-04-24/usc-recruit-alijah-arenas-injured-in-car-crash

Alijah Arenas, the Chatsworth High star and crown jewel of USC’s incoming recruiting class, was involved in a serious Cybertruck accident on Thursday morning, a person familiar with the situation not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Times.

Arenas was in a Tesla Cybertruck early Thursday morning, when the vehicle lost control near the corner of Corbin Avenue and Blythe Street in Reseda. The crash occurred at 4:56 a.m., when the Cybertruck struck a fire hydrant and tree. The 18-year-old driver was pulled from the wreckage of the vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital and was stable, according to LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes. A source told The Times that drugs and alcohol were not involved in the crash.

Arenas was placed in a coma, a person with knowledge of the crash told The Times. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the crash and Arenas’ condition.

Hours after the crash, the Cybertruck was taken from the scene and burst into flames at a tow yard. According to a source, the Los Angeles Fire Hazard Mat responded to the ensuing hazardous materials incident.

Alijah is the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, who canceled plans to stream a new episode of his online show Thursday. His mother, Laura Govan, posted on Instagram shortly after asking for “all your … prayers”.

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[Carlos Thomas]

Hopefully he will be okay. Imagine if he was in something that was not as strong as the CyberTruck.

 

[L3it3R]

“The vehicle lost control”

Uh huh.

 

[vandytom]

That’s def a strong impact dead on. No substance but at 5 am? Hmmm. Speed was def involved from the damages.

 

[Outdoors]

Looks like the best place to be is the second row. Look at behind the B pillar. Almost spotless.

 

[tmeyer3]

I'm glad he chose a CT! I wonder how fast he was going to cause that kind of damage... hope he's ok!

 

[CyberGus]

Looks like the best place to be is the second row. Look at behind the B pillar. Almost spotless.

No real intrusion into the front row, either. Injuries were due to sudden deceleration. Big trees like that don’t give way, you’d be better off hitting a brick wall. At least the front-end crumpled appropriately.

Excess speed + inadequate experience = FAFO moment. Hopefully he recovers.

 

[Ljhughes8]

Parental control should be set

 

[CyberGus]

Hopefully he will be okay. Imagine if he was in something that was not as strong as the CyberTruck.

If that impact had been with a Honda instead of a tree, there would have been fatalities.

 

[REM]

The truck weighs 6,800 lbs and is quick.

People need to start respecting the roadway again. Thank God he didn't kill a family of 4 on their way home.

 

[Outdoors]

No real intrusion into the front row, either. Injuries were due to sudden deceleration. Big trees like that don’t give way, you’d be better off hitting a brick wall. At least the front-end crumpled appropriately.

Excess speed + inadequate experience = FAFO moment. Hopefully he recovers.

Yeah. Dad always said don't veer for deer. Trees don't forgive on much of anything.

 

[Mini2nut]

Frunk hood collapsed as designed in a frontal collision. The large tree didn't even flinch.

 

[vandytom]

No real intrusion into the front row, either. Injuries were due to sudden deceleration. Big trees like that don’t give way, you’d be better off hitting a brick wall. At least the front-end crumpled appropriately.

Excess speed + inadequate experience = FAFO moment. Hopefully he recovers.

Yes impact brute force can damage internal organs. Speed kills.

 

[vandytom]

Yeah. Dad always said don't veer for deer. Trees don't forgive on much of anything.

Yes, between the two, hit the more movable less mass objects.

 

[vandytom]

I'm glad he chose a CT! I wonder how fast he was going to cause that kind of damage... hope he's ok!

I can tell you having had a head on Model 3 collision with another car, the front impact to the tire wells is worse than mine, which was combined speed about 50 mph from both cars. This was prob 60+ mph.

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