SuperSonics’ Ellis Charged With Drunk Driving

Seattle SuperSonic guard Dale Ellis was charged Thursday with drunk and reckless driving in a Jan. 12 automobile accident that broke three of his ribs, collapsed his lung and knocked him out of his team’s lineup for six weeks.

Ellis rammed his car into a divider on Interstate 5 in Seattle early in the morning, after scoring 29 points in the SuperSonics’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks the previous evening.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng said Ellis refused a blood-alcohol test after the accident.

Ellis faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Also, two doormen from the restaurant Ellis left shortly before the accident were charged with bribery in an alleged attempt to be paid $50,000 in return for testifying for Ellis.

Ellis, prosecutors said, is not involved in the bribery charge.