49ers coach Kyle Shanahan admits fault in Palo Alto crash after reporting error

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday that he was responsible for a July 14 crash in Palo Alto that left him seriously injured and a 21-year-old female driver with minor injuries. Shanahan said his phone slipped between the seats of his 2023 Tesla, prompting him to look down for about two seconds, during which he swerved into the opposite lane of Alma Street and struck a 2025 Mercedes SUV.

The California Crash Reporting System initially recorded the other driver as at fault, but Shanahan said a clerical error was identified by Palo Alto police. "I hit her," he said, adding that the police report does not support the earlier attribution of blame.

Police confirmed the mistake and stated that Shanahan’s account was accurate, noting that no citation was issued to either party and that neither driver received preferential treatment. The department said the error would be corrected in the state database.

Shanahan, who was traveling from a chiropractic appointment in Menlo Park, reported driving about 20 mph in a 25-mph zone. He sustained a laceration above his right eye that required 40 stitches, three broken ribs, a broken left hand and a broken nose caused by airbag deployment. He remains under concussion monitoring and has not resumed full coaching duties, with assistant head coach Chris Foerster covering his responsibilities.

The coach, who has a clean seven-year driving record, said he was motivated to speak publicly after learning the other driver had been incorrectly blamed. He described ongoing symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and sensitivity to noise, but noted that his condition has been improving.