North High School in Phoenix has suspended its head football coach for two years for failing to report an automobile accident that happened this past summer.
According to On3, citing a report in The Arizona Republic, Mark Mejia was transporting players to the Just Chilly’s Flight Club passing tournament when their minibus rear-ended a vehicle that was also traveling to the 7-on-7 event.
As reported by Andy Villamarzo, neither party contacted local authorities due to the crash not involving injuries. But because Mejia failed to immediately report the accident, the school suspended him for five years. His suspension was reduced to two years following Majia's appeal to the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board.
“They were going to the same tournament, and they said, ‘Hey, let’s just get to the tournament and we’ll exchange information,’ “ Mejia told The Arizona Republic. “They got there. It’s a Saturday. The parents said, ‘Hey, the kids are fine. Let’s just play football.’ We played. We’ll take care of this on Monday.”
North will reportedly turn to head baseball coach AJ Liebau to lead the football program during the suspension of Mejia, who led the Mustangs to a 3-7 Class 5A Metro record last season.
