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Police: Phills, Wesley racing at over 100 mph

Associate Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Charlotte Hornets teammates Bobby Phills and David Wesley were racing at more than 100 mph when Phills lost control of his Porsche and was killed, police said.

Phills, traveling 107 mph, was behind Wesley, at 110 mph, when his car spun and crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an Oldsmobile on Jan. 12, according to a new police report released Monday.

Police originally estimated the players were racing at more than 75 mph in the 45 mph zone.

The latest report says Phills and Wesley were driving in an "erratic, reckless, careless, negligent or aggressive manner," and the men were "involved in a speed competition" before the collision.

The speeds are estimates calculated using the length of tire marks, the amount of damage to the cars and other factors measured by investigators, police said.

The report is just one element of an investigation that will be presented to the district attorney's office late this week or early next week. Prosecutors will decide what charges, if any, to file.

Wesley, driving with a suspended license at the time of his teammate's wreck, has declined comment.

Playing their first home game since the death of their co-captain, the Hornets defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-94 Monday night.

Before the report was completed, the driver of the Oldsmobile, Rob Woolard, spoke publicly for the first time since the wreck near Charlotte Coliseum.

He said it is not important to him if Wesley is criminally charged.

"He (Wesley) didn't know that was going to happen," Woolard said.

Woolard is on crutches, and much of his body is bruised. He injured both knees and one might need surgery and physical therapy.