GoHeels Exclusive: Jarring Weekend For Crawford

by Pat James, GoHeels.com

Losses don't settle well with North Carolina defensive tackle Aaron Crawford. They never have, he says, even as a child.

Thus, when Crawford and the UNC defense surrendered 705 yards against Louisville in a 47-35 loss at Kenan Stadium last Saturday, he said his parents and younger brother, Noah, knew he'd be frustrated when they greeted him outside of the locker room.

They gave him time to recuperate and reflect. And after Crawford finished taking photos with other family members who attended the game, his parents pulled him aside near the Charlie Justice statue and told him of the car crash that nearly cost them their lives.

"At first, that initial shock kind of just hit me," said Crawford, a redshirt sophomore, after Wednesday's practice. "But the fact that I saw the pictures afterward and the fact that they walked out of it alive, it's just a game after that."

Crawford said his parents have come to every game since he joined the Tar Heels in 2015. The roughly 290-mile drive from their home in Ashburn, Virginia, to Chapel Hill has become seemingly routine.

But nothing about last Saturday's early morning drive was usual.

Preciate everybody's prayers, everybody made it out safe pic.twitter.com/c2Pt5R95ar
— Aaron Crawford (@ACraw92) September 10, 2017

According to a Facebook post by Crawford's mother, Robin Berry-Crawford, the family was driving south on Interstate 95 when a drunken driver traveling at about 120 mph struck the Crawford's car from behind. The car flipped multiple times before landing upside down near the northbound lanes.

Lying in the back of the car, Noah Crawford escaped by kicking a door open, Berry-Crawford said in her post. She had to be removed from the car by emergency responders.

"It was a nightmare," said Berry-Crawford in the post. "We lost half of our belongings – license, money, credit cards and personal items. The car was demolished. But we live today to tell the story."

The Crawfords initially didn't go to a hospital. Instead, they made their way to Chapel Hill for the game, without telling Crawford about the crash.

"My mom told me there was no way she could let me not see her face walking into the Victory Walk before the game," Crawford said. "So she was determined to make it here."

Win lose or draw i was just blessed that I got to see my family this morning... pic.twitter.com/acvMcAubJq
— Aaron Crawford (@ACraw92) September 10, 2017

A trip to the hospital, and then Carolina Brewery for dinner, ultimately followed the game. However, Crawford said his parents and Noah "had really minor injuries." He said all three are planning on attending Saturday's game at Old Dominion.

"It's something that's been on my mind all week," Crawford said. "But if anything, I say it motivates me even more. I just come out here and give it my all even more so every day, just knowing they put in all of that effort to come see me. I have to put on a good performance for them every single time."

Players Mentioned

Aaron Crawford

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