Ex-NFL star Travian Robertson sues suspected drunk driver after injuries in car crash
South Carolina defensive line coach seeks damages against driver's estate after Aug. crash that left him hospitalized
Travian Robertson, a former NFL defensive end and current South Carolina defensive line coach, has filed a lawsuit against the estate of a suspected drunk driver after suffering severe injuries in a car crash.
Robertson, 36, was injured when the other driver, Kelly Marie Johnson, allegedly drifted over the center line and collided with his vehicle on Aug. 22, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Johnson, 35, died at the scene. Robertson spent 10 days in the ICU at Prisma Health Richland in Columbia and has undergone five surgeries, his lawyers said. An incident report cited by WIS said Johnson was under the influence.
The lawsuit, obtained by The State, names Johnson's estate as the defendant and alleges Robertson suffered physical injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of consortium, property damage and other claims. Robertson's lawyers say he is entitled to actual and punitive damages. The University of South Carolina said Robertson is expected to make a full recovery and be back on the field. Robertson played at South Carolina from 2007 to 2011, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft, and later spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was named the Gamecocks' defensive line coach in May 2023 after coaching stints at Tulane, Georgia State and Albany State. In a statement through his lawyer, Robertson thanked supporters and said recovery remains his focus. He posted a photo this week of watching practice in a wheelchair.
The filing reflects the ongoing legal action stemming from the Aug. 22 crash, with authorities saying Johnson was allegedly under the influence at the time. The State reported the suit seeks both actual and punitive damages, and Robertson’s camp has emphasized the goal of accountability and his path to recovery. No trial date has been announced. Authorities have not indicated a timeline for proceedings, and the case will proceed through the state court system.