Police have launched an investigation after Michail Antonio was involved in a car crash in Essex on Saturday. The West Ham striker is in a stable condition in hospital, his club have confirmed.
Antonio was taken to a central London hospital following the single-car collision in Epping shortly after midday. West Ham confirmed the news after images of a smashed up Ferrari vehicle purported to belong to the 34-year-old striker were shared on social media.
Essex Police are appealing for information about the incident.
A statement read: “We were called shortly after 12.50pm on Saturday, December 7 to Coppice Row, Epping, following reports of what is believed to be a single vehicle collision involving a Ferrari.
“Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital. The vehicle has been recovered and we are no longer on scene. An investigation will be carried out by our Roads Policing Unit.
“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.
“Please quote incident 605 of 7 December when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible. Alternatively, please email the investigating officer, PS Mark Hewitt.”
West Ham have confirmed that Antonio is in a stable condition. He is “conscious and communicating” in hospital.
A club statement read: “West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area.
“Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital.
“At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. The club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course.”
Antonio is West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals in over 300 appearances. Across all competitions, he has struck 83 goals since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015. His form earlier in his West Ham career earned him a call-up to the England squad but he never made his debut and has since won 21 caps for Jamaica.
West Ham are due to play Wolves on Monday. Antonio appeared from the bench in their 3-1 defeat against Leicester last Tuesday and has scored once in 14 matches this term.
