Palo Alto Police Make Curious Decision On Kyle Shanahan’s Accident

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Palo Alto Police Department will not release body camera footage or the collision report from San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s recent car crash.

According to TMZ Sports, the department denied a public records request, saying both the bodycam video and accident report are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act.

A department spokesperson told the outlet, “Nothing will be released related to this accident.”

Police explained that the footage would not be released, even if Shanahan requested it, because other people appear therein.

Kyle Shanahan Recently Accepted Responsibility For The Collision

The decision comes days after Shanahan publicly explained what happened during the July 14 crash.

The 49ers coach said his phone slipped between the seats while he was driving. He briefly looked down to retrieve it, crossed into the oncoming lane and collided with an SUV. Shanahan also clarified that he was not using the phone at the time of the crash.

Earlier reports incorrectly indicated that the other driver caused the collision after California’s statewide crash database assigned fault to that driver. 

Shanahan later said the police report never blamed the other motorist. He explained the database entry resulted from a clerical error. 49ers vice president of security Jeremy Jones said police told him the incorrect database entry stemmed from that same clerical mistake.

Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, a longtime friend of Shanahan, later disclosed the extent of the coach’s injuries. Simms’ disclosure was consistent with the reports detailing Shanahan’s ordeal. He also said Shanahan came close to losing an eye.

The department’s refusal to release the footage means the public will not get to see officers’ interactions on the scene.

While some have questioned the incident due to the delayed public disclosure and earlier database error, police have not suggested any criminal wrongdoing.