After Crash, Laker Campbell Arrested for Drunk Driving

Laker forward Elden Campbell was arrested early Friday morning on felony drunk-driving charges after he was involved in a single-car accident in Simi Valley.

Authorities said Campbell suffered only minor injuries when the 1994 Mercedes he was driving flipped while traveling eastbound on California 118.

He refused to take a breath test, the California Highway Patrol said, and was treated at an area hospital before being booked at Ventura County Jail on $10,000 bail.

A passenger, Reginald Johnson of Los Angeles, also sustained minor injuries but refused medical attention, the CHP said. Johnson was not arrested.

Campbell was released later in the day, although it is not known if that was on his own recognizance or if he posted bail.

According to the CHP, Campbell was driving about 75 m.p.h. in the fast lane of the freeway about 2:20 a.m. when his car veered to the far right and hit an asphalt berm. He tried to correct the car, which swung back to the left and flipped.

Both Campbell and Johnson were wearing seat belts.

The charge was filed as a felony because injuries were involved. However, the district attorney’s office has the option of reducing it to a misdemeanor.

Campbell, who lives in Redondo Beach, could not be reached for comment. His agent, Richard Howell, did not return phone calls. The Lakers had not heard of the incident and declined comment. Because of the NBA lockout, they are prohibited from even calling their starting power forward.