UCLA Kicker Medlock Arrested in Injury Crash

UCLA kicker Justin Medlock was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of being involved in an alcohol-related accident on the San Diego Freeway in Inglewood that left a member of the women’s golf team with serious spinal injuries, the California Highway Patrol said.

Medlock, a junior recently named second team all-Pacific 10 Conference and considered an NFL prospect, rolled his pickup truck in the northbound lanes of the freeway about 3 a.m. and walked away from the crash, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jodi Legarra said. Inglewood police arrested him on Florence Avenue, about 1 1/2 miles from the accident scene.

His passenger, Hannah Jun, was taken to UCLA Medical Center, where she was treated for broken vertebra in her neck. Hospital officials declined to provide information about her condition. Medlock was treated at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital for a swollen eye, cut lip and chest pain before he was taken to jail.

The 22-year-old kicker was booked into the sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center on suspicion of felony drunk driving causing injury and felony hit-and-run, Legarra said. He was released from jail about 9 p.m. after posting bail, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Bail had been set at $100,000.

Medlock crashed his 1998 Toyota Tacoma into a call box north of Manchester Boulevard before the truck rolled and ended up on its roof on a freeway onramp, Legarra said.

When officers arrived, Jun’s body was partially dangling from the truck. Medlock, who smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test, told officers that he had been drinking with friends in Newport Beach, CHP Officer Dale Horne said.

Jun, 20, is a junior from San Diego who attended Torrey Pines High. She recently qualified to play on the Futures Tour by tying for 21st in the qualifying tournament in Florida.

Medlock’s arrest comes as the No. 17-ranked Bruins prepare to play Northwestern Dec. 30 in the Sun Bowl in El Paso.

Based on how UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell handled off-the-field alcohol-related incidents two years ago, it’s probable that Medlock will be suspended for at least the bowl game, though UCLA officials would not comment. One official did say he expected Medlock to be suspended.

In his first season at UCLA in 2003, Dorrell suspended quarterback John Sciarra and cornerback Marcus Cassel for alcohol-related incidents. Sciarra was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and public intoxication and providing a false name to a police officer. Cassel was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol.

Earlier this season, Dorrell talked about his team’s discipline policy.

“We remind our young student-athletes all of the time that they not only represent themselves and their families but also the university,” Dorrell said.

Over the last two seasons, Medlock has stepped up as a reliable kicker for the Bruins, making 28 of 37 field-goal attempts. This season, he has made all 50 of his point-after kicks and is 13 of 17 field-goal attempts.

Medlock is second on the team in scoring with 89 points this season. Last year, Medlock was an all-Pac-10 first-team selection who led UCLA in scoring with 87 points, including three field goals of more than 49 yards.

Times staff writers Lonnie White and Richard Winton contributed to this report.