Top QB Recruit Could Not Be Found After Crashing Car, Police Say

Police searched for Miami Hurricanes recruit Kevin Olsen after he allegedly drove into a tree and a parked car last month, but could not locate him, Wayne Police Det. James Clarke said Wednesday. 

Olsen, one of the leading quarterback recruits in the country, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident in connection with a May 25 crash on Emerson Place. 

Clarke said "several officers" combed the area searching for Olsen, after a bystander told police the recruit drove into a tree, got out of his black Sport Utility Vehicle to assess the damage, and then began driving away from the scene before allegedly striking a parked car, according to a police report.

Olsen then got out of his car a second time and walked away from the scene, according to the report. The witness told police there appeared to be blood on Olsen's face and that he "appeared to be under the influence of something."

“We were concerned with the fact that he was still out there,” Clarke said Wednesday. 

Clarke said police searched for Olsen to see if he needed medical attention. The detective also noted that without being able to locate Olsen, police officers would have been unable to test for alcohol or drugs if use was suspected.

"There were several officers in the area looking for him," he said.

Olsen’s license was found in front of a nearby resident's Emerson Place house at about 11:30 a.m. the next day. His vehicle was towed by a local company.

Olsen was additionally charged with failure to report an accident and careless driving. He could have multiple motor vehicle points placed on his driving record and be fined hundreds of dollars, according to police.

He is due to appear in Wayne Municipal Court June 20.

Olsen verbally committed to play for the University of Miami in his junior year at Wayne Hills High School. Football runs in Olsen's family: his brother is former Miami tight end and current Carolina Panther Greg Olsen and his father, Chris Olsen, is a 26-year coach of the eight state championship-winning Wayne Hills football team.

Miami Coach Al Golden said he was confident the incident would not impact Olsen's future with the team, the Sun Sentinel reported Wednesday night. 

"I'm confident, after haven spoken with Kevin and coach and looking at the facts of the case, this will be a non-issue moving forward," the website quoted Golden as saying during a radio interview Wednesday morning. 

Chris Yandle, director of communications for the University of Miami, said Golden and the coaches are investigating the matter on their own.

"We [will] continue to review the situation, but there has been no change in Kevin Olsen's status and he is expected to join the program in advance of the fall semester," Yandle said.

Yandle said Olsen has not enrolled in classes yet but is expected to be on campus "later this summer." 

The Hurricanes' first practice is scheduled for early August, Yandle said.

Olsen, his family and his decision on which college team to play for were the subject of a documentary that aired on MSG Varsity.

The Wayne police traffic bureau conducted the accident investigation and the summonses have been mailed to Olsen, Clarke said. Police did not have any contact with Olsen after the accident or at his residence.