Terrifying new footage shows up-and-coming basketball star Alijah Arenas lying face down in a huge puddle of water Thursday morning – in the moments after he was thrown from a burning Tesla Cybertruck.
Arenas, 18, the son of NBA star Gilbert Arenas, was apparently driving the vehicle when it barreled over a fire hydrant and hit a nearby tree just before 5am just outside of his San Fernando Valley home, TMZ reports.
In the newly-released footage, two good Samaritans could be seen wading through a large puddle as the fire hydrant continued to spew water.
The two men, who have been identified as neighbors of the Arenas’, then raced to the Cybertruck and peered inside to see if there were any other victims as the front of the vehicle continued to burn.
‘Is somebody in there?’ they could be heard asking.
From there, they ran over to Arenas – who was shirtless and shoeless, wearing only a pair of boxers.
He appeared to have one leg sticking up at the time, and was rolling around in apparent pain – but seemed to have been unconscious.
‘It’s OK, wake up, wake up quick,’ one of the men urged the high school basketball phenom, who did not appear to be moving. ‘Get up bro, c’mon.’
Alijah Arenas, 18, was seen in newly released footage lying face-down in a large puddle after he was ejected from a Tesla Cybertruck Thursday morning
Two good Samaritans rushed to the scene and peered inside the vehicle to see if there were any other victims
Meanwhile, the front of the Cybertruck continued to burn
At that point, firefighters could be seen arriving at the scene, prompting the two men to urge them to check inside the vehicle that there was nobody else trapped inside.
Shortly after the video was taken, witnesses told TMZ Arenas was placed in a stretcher and rushed to a local hospital.
He was then placed in an induced coma, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported.
As of Thursday evening, authorities said the teenager was in stable condition.
Meanwhile, many in the basketball community have taken to social media to offer their prayers and well-wishes to the teenager, including former NBA players Evan Turner and Jonas Jerebko.
CBS college basketball insider Jon Rothstein also wrote: ‘Prayers to Alijah Arenas and his family’ with a slew of prayer-hands emojis.
Magic Johnson similarly said he and his wife ‘are praying for a full recovery for Alijah Arenas following his car crash.
‘We are also praying for the entire Arenas family, especially his dad Gilbert and mom Laura, during this difficult time.’
The elder Arenas, 43, has not yet addressed the incident, only sharing a message from fantasy sports outlet Underdog.
Arenas is the son of NBA star Gilbert Arenas, and appeared to be following in his footsteps
‘Our hearts are with our friend and Underdog partner Gilbert Arenas in this difficult moment,’ the company posted on X.
‘We ask the Gil’s Arena and Underdog communities to please keep Alijah and the entire family in your thoughts.’
Gilbert added a prayer emoji to the post.
The former Wizards star, nicknamed ‘Agent Zero,’ was a three-time All-Star for Washington as he averaged 25 points per game in 357 games for the franchise.
While he was traded to the Magic in 2010, he ended his time in Washington as 10th in the franchise’s all-time scoring charts and sixth in steals.
Previously, he was named the league’s Most Improved Player for the 2002-03 season while he was with the Warriors.
He last appeared in the NBA during the 2011-12 season.
Arenas then wrapped up his pro basketball career with the Shanghai Sharks in China for one season.
Alijah is a five-star basketball prospect who was committed to play at the University of Southern California next season
It appears his son was following in his footsteps as a five-star basketball prospect who was committed to play at the University of Southern California next season.
Earlier this month, he even played in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Gilbert’s other children with his ex-partner Laura Govan include daughter Izela, 19; daughter Hamiley, 14; and son Aloni, 13.
He also had a child with his ex-girlfriend Lindsay Faulk.
Their daughter, Gia, is 10 years old.
