US forward Davies in surgery after car accident

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was injured in a one-car accident in which another person was killed early Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., area.

Davies was expected to undergo more than five hours of surgery. U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman Neil Buethe said Davies’ injuries were not life-threatening but “possibly” career-threatening, but he added: “We don’t know specifically what the surgery is for.”

“Obviously, as a team we were saddened to learn this news,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family, as well as the other person in the car and the families of the others involved. … We are relying on each other in a moment that has for sure hit us all hard.”

U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser said the accident took place at about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. Schlosser identified the fatality as Ashley J. Roberta, 22, of Phoenix, Md.

Schlosser said there were three people in the car, and that Roberta was not the driver. Davies and the other person in the car were taken to Washington Hospital Center Medstar, one by land and one by helicopter. Schlosser did not say who was driving the car, and the cause of the accident remained under investigation.

The U.S. team was in Washington area to prepare for Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifying game against Costa Rica.

The 23-year-old Davies has four goals in 17 international appearances. He started and played 78 minutes in the Americans’ 3-2 victory over Honduras on Saturday that clinched a berth in their sixth straight World Cup. He made his first U.S. appearance on June 2, 2007, as a substitute against China.

Born in Manchester, N.H., Davies played for Boston College before turning pro in 2006. He was a member of last year’s American Olympic team and currently plays for the French club Sochaux. Davies’ parents were in route to Washington on Tuesday, USSF spokesman Michael Kammarman said.

The U.S. team had an optional breakfast at its hotel Tuesday, and officials were informed of the accident around 11 a.m., just as Davies’ surgery was about to begin. Bradley gathered the players before lunch and informed them of the news.

Davies’ teammates were not made available for comment, but many in the U.S. soccer community expressed somber thoughts via Twitter.

“Just got some terrible news about my boy. :( :( :( I’m done tweeting for the day, too much stuff runnin through my head,” tweeted midfielder Maurice Edu, who has played for the U.S. team but is not on the roster for the game in Washington.

“OMG please pray for Charlie Davies and the people involved in the car accident in dc,” was the message from Freddy Adu, also a member of the national team’s player pool.

“Obviously, the players are saddened by the situation and, obviously, hope the surgery goes well for Charlie and that he has a quick recovery,” Buethe said.

Associated Press Writer Sarah Karush in Washington and AP Sports Writer Rob Harris in London contributed to this report.