New video has put Oregon assistant coach Ra’Shaad Samples back in the spotlight, showing him leaving the scene of an April crash that has since led to DUI and reckless driving charges.
According to the reporting, Samples backed his Ford F-150 into a parked Dodge Ram in Eugene, with dashcam footage from the other vehicle capturing the collision. He then paused briefly before driving off while bystanders shouted. The other driver, Steven James Young, followed him and confronted him after the incident.
Samples said in a statement released Tuesday to The Oregonian/OregonLive through his lawyer, “I did not realize I backed into anything until I pulled away,”
Young said Samples gave the name Deshaun Jackson at the scene. Later text messages reportedly showed that same alias along with insurance screenshots. Samples later told investigators he used the name as a joke and said DeSean Jackson is his favorite player.
The case has also included recorded phone calls in which Samples asked Young not to share the video with head coach Dan Lanning. In those calls, he also offered game tickets and cash to cover damages.
“If I can do something for your family, if there’s a game, if there’s anything I can do bro,” Samples told Young in the phone call in the days after the incident. “It would make me feel better if I’ve shown some appreciation, if you ever need it.”
In his statement through his lawyer, Samples said he regularly hands out tickets to people he meets and denied remembering any specific ticket offer tied to this case. “While I saw no damage to his vehicle, I offered to pay for any damage,” he said via his lawyer.
“I don’t remember offering him any game tickets. I routinely give people game tickets.
If I meet someone who wants to go to a game, I give them tickets. I don’t believe I’ve ever told someone no.”
University of Oregon athletics responded with a short statement: “We take these matters seriously and have taken appropriate action,”
Samples is still listed on the team website as assistant head coach and running backs coach. Fall camp begins this week.
Young and some passengers in his vehicle now say they were injured and have hired attorneys to pursue the case. The DMV report says no field sobriety test was given at the scene, and Eugene police are still investigating.
Samples appeared in court for an initial hearing in July, and his next court date is set for late August.
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