LITTLE ROCK — Upon meeting the Jeep Cherokee carrying coach Bobby Petrino from the crash site on April 1, King “observed a white female helping Coach Petrino out of the passenger side rear of the car. ... This white female had blond hair and I think was dressed in jeans. She showed no sign of any injuries. I had never seen this person before in my life.”
Inside the Petrino Crash
PETRINO STATEMENT: “I was informed in writing today at 5:45 p.m. that I was being terminated as head football coach at the University of Arkansas. The simplest response I have is: I’m sorry. These two words seem very inadequate. But that is my heart. All I have been able to think about is the number of people I’ve let down by making selfish decisions. I’ve taken a lot of criticism in the past. Some deserved, some not deserved. This time, I have no one to blame but myself." CONTINUE READING HIS STATEMENT
Benjamin Williams, one of the people who helped Petrino at the crash site, calls King on April 2 and says “that he hoped Coach Petrino and his lady friend were okay. ... I did not ask him anything about the ‘lady friend,’ knowing that an ASP trooper or investigator would be interviewing him soon.”
On April 2, Petrino asks King if he will be required to divulge passenger information: “I told him that we had been getting phone calls from people who had said there was a passenger on the rear of the motorcycle and if we didn’t get a name, the report would state unidentified white female. I didn’t ask him the name, and he didn’t ask me to keep her name off the report.”
Around 6:30 p.m. on April 3, Sgt. Gabe Weaver, one of the investigating troopers, tells King that Petrino “introduced them to the passenger, who was identified as Jessica Dorrell, who was also interviewed.”
“In closing, at no time did I fail to provide information to my supervisor or involve myself in the accident investigation. I do not know Jessica Dorrell and I have never met her. Coach Petrino and I did not discuss any passenger information during transport to the hospital or otherwise. I have a professional relationship with Coach Petrino and have never met with him or his family socially. At no time was there any indication that Coach Petrino had been drinking or was intoxicated. He did not smell of alcoholic beverages.”
Front Section, Pages 2 on 04/10/2012