Beloved Kentucky Basketball Player Terrence Clarke Killed In Northridge Car Crash

NORTHRIDGE (CBSLA) -- University of Kentucky basketball player Terrence Clarke was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Northridge.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Kentucky Wildcats guard Terrence Clarke (5) celebrates a score during the men's Champions Classic college basketball game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats on December 1, 2020, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

According to Los Angeles police, at around 2 p.m. the 19-year-old Clarke was behind the wheel of a car speeding south on Winnetka Avenue when he approached a red light at the intersection with Nordhoff Street. Police said Clarke drove through the red light and collided with another car attempting to make a left turn in the intersection.

Clarke's vehicle continued on to hit a light pole before crashing into a brick wall, officers said. Clarke was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where he died.

The crash was captured on a nearby security camera. No one else was hurt.

Clarke was a guard for the Kentucky Wildcats. He had recently completed his freshman season and was preparing for the 2021 NBA draft, according to his coach. Clarke only appeared in eight games last season due to a leg injury.

"I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight," Kentucky head coach John Calipari said Thursday. "A young person who we all love has just lost his life too soon, one with all of his dreams and hopes ahead of him. Terrence Clarke was a beautiful kid, someone who owned the room with his personality, smile and joy."

"People gravitated to him," added Calipari. "And to hear we have lost him is just hard for all of us to comprehend right now. We are all in shock."

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