Emotions ran high Friday as Missouri learned of car accident involving football teammates

COLUMBIA, Mo. Confusion reigned Friday during Missouri’s walk-through as word that Terry Beckner Jr. and three teammates had been involved in a car crash on the northeast corner of campus.

“When we heard car wreck, everybody was like, ‘Oh, another car wreck,’ ” sophomore wide receiver J’Mon Moore said. “And then we heard that they were in the hospital, so everybody was nervous.”

The Tigers lost starting defensive tackle Harold Brantley, a junior, to injuries suffered in a Father’s Day car accident for the season, so Friday’s incident struck a nerve.

“That’s what I thought (about), especially with Terry on the D-line too,” junior quarterback Maty Mauk said. “I was just (thinking), ‘What happened? How bad is it?’ Then I heard they hit a pole and now your heart kind of goes down and you just want to be there and make sure they’re OK. Luckily, they are and we’ll get them all back.”

Beckner Jr. was involved in a two-vehicle accident at College and University avenues. He was treated and released at the scene along with redshirt freshman Keyon Dilosa, who sat out Saturday’s game with a bruised elbow.

Two other redshirt freshman teammates, wide receiver DeSean Blair and running back Trevon Walters, were transported to University Hospital as a precaution.

Blair missed the 9-6 win against Connecticut with a concussion, while Walters, who is out until at least mid-October after surgery to repair a torn ACL, had his knee looked at.

“We had a rumor (Walters) had a broken leg, so there was just a lot we’re going through that doesn’t happen on Friday,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.

Pinkel, who said he was thankful the person in the other car was fine and there were no serious injuries, raced to scene of the accident.

“When that thing happened (Friday), I was scared to death, obviously ...” Pinkel said. “That’s like your kids, so I’m in the car going. The good news is Terry was OK and he could play. DeSean and Keyon, both those guys are going to be OK.”

Beckner, a four-star recruit from East St. Louis, Ill., recorded two tackles, including one for a loss.

“He went in and I thought he did some really good things and played well,” Pinkel said. “That’s a lot for a young guy to happen to. ... Terry was really upset, because he was driving the car. ... It was right in the middle of rush hour and everything like that, but he calmed down when he knew everybody was OK.”

Still, it definitely threw the Tigers for a loop.

“We were down in the locker room and thought maybe guys got their haircuts and were coming in late,” Mauk said. “They said they got in an accident and the emotion was going around the locker room. You want to know what’s going on.”

Seeing Beckner arrive late followed by Dilosa, who had his arm in a sling finally eased Missouri’s worries and allowed the focus to shift back to football for the most part.

“It was a scare, because when you hear car accident and you hear paramedics and our guys are in the hospital ... there was concern,” Moore said. “But they’re fine, so we’re glad to hear that. ... Once we heard that they were all right, then everybody was good.”

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