Published October 18, 2010

Junior Seau warming up before his final NFL game in January (AP)

What’s clear at this point is former Patriots star linebacker Junior Seau drove his car off a 30-foot embankment near his home in San Diego. What we don’t know yet is why.

According to The Associated Press, Seau “was hospitalized with minor injuries Monday, less than nine hours after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.”

Seau was arrested late Sunday night following an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend. From the AP:

Seau’s 25-year-old, live-in girlfriend told authorities that Seau assaulted her during an argument at his Oceanside home, according to Oceanside police. She appeared to have minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.

Seau, 41, was arrested outside his home about two hours after police arrived. He wasn’t home when authorities arrived but they asked him to return when he called his girlfriend.

Seau posted bail and was released from the San Diego County jail in Vista.

San Diego ABC affiliate 10 News reports “a witness called 10News around 9:00 a.m. to report that she saw Seau drive a car off a cliff directly in front of her near Carlsbad Boulevard and Solamar Drive.”

The North County Times spoke with Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain about the crash. The paper reports that “Cain said there was no signs of drugs or alcohol. ‘At this point, it doesn’t appear that there was any of that involved.'”

So far, numerous outlets have reported on the crash but haven’t yet gotten solid word on Seau’s condition.

From the AP:

“At this point we think he’s fine but we really don’t have any comment,” said Richard Doan, who answered the cell phone of Bette Hoffman, who works for Seau’s foundation. “There are no injuries but he seems to be a little shaken up.”

A hospital spokeswoman, Lisa Ohmstede, declined to comment on Seau’s condition.

The well-liked Seau played for the Patriots from 2006-2009. He’s a veteran of 18 NFL seasons, most with the San Diego Chargers. He will almost certainly be selected to the NFL Hall of Fame.