Top 5 recruit Alijah Arenas was all set to join the Trojans for his freshman year after reclassifying from 2026 to this year, when a horrible tragedy struck him. Arenas was in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital by the authorities, who responded to a call at 4:55 a.m in the morning. They pulled the 18-year-old out of his car and immediately hospitalized him.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the Cybertruck “crashed into a tree/fire hydrant with fire involved.” Shortly after being rescued, Arenas was put into a medically induced coma, a procedure that sparked concern among fans and the basketball community.

High School on SI reporter Tarek Fattal reported that the reasoning behind Arenas’ induced coma was due to smoke inhalation from the fire caused by the accident. However, it has been confirmed that Arenas did not suffer any broken bones.

What does Induced Coma mean that Alijah Arenas suffered after his accident?

A medically induced coma is a ‘medical tool’ that is supposed to bring about a deep state of brain inactivity and is adopted for effective treatment of patients with critical or severe conditions. This process involves administering sedative drugs, and the procedure is reversible, with patients regaining consciousness once the drugs are discontinued or medical interventions are complete.

As per Fattal’s update, the car caught on fire, and the smoke inhalation of a mix of chemicals must have posed a risk of respiratory damage and systemic toxicity. And since exposure to certain gases can eventually lead to a coma with the risk of harming almost all other organs, especially the brain, the medically induced one was a precautionary measure. In such cases, an induced coma can help prevent a swollen brain or oxygen deprivation while stabilizing the patient’s condition.

What Chemicals Must Alijah Arenas Have Inhaled?

The reports and the subsequent medical procedures point to a range of hazardous chemicals Alijah likely inhaled. Vehicle fires, especially those involving EVs, release complex toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to the combustion of lithium-ion batteries and synthetic materials. Hence, the safety of these cars has been up in the air since their inception.

Carbon monoxide interferes with oxygen transport in the blood after binding to hemoglobin in the blood. And hydrogen cyanide, another deadly byproduct, disrupts cellular respiration, posing immediate risks to the brain and heart. Additionally, burning plastics and upholstery in the Cybertruck’s interior likely released VOCs like benzene, which can cause dizziness, confusion, and long-term health effects. These three, together in large amounts, along with other harmful gases, can make you lose consciousness and even cause seizures. However, it’s yet unknown what symptoms Alijah showed immediately after the accident. What we do know is that Alijah’s stable condition, as reported by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), suggests that timely intervention mitigated worse outcomes, but the smoke’s impact was severe enough to warrant a coma.

What happened to the Cyber Truck after Alijah Arenas’ accident?

Photos and videos from the scene, shared by Los Angeles Times reporter Ryan Kartje, showed the silver Cybertruck “wrapped around a tree” with a shattered windshield, broken driver’s side windows, and the fire hydrant showering the vehicle. So, the car, registered to Gilbert Arenas per California DMV records, was severely damaged. In the video, Alijah could be seen lying down on his stomach in the street, in a few inches of water.

After some hours, it was evident that Alijah had escaped a larger tragedy. According to The Independent, “Officials later took the car to a tow yard, where it burst into flames.” The Los Angeles Fire Hazard Mat team responded to this secondary fire, classified as a hazardous materials incident due to the potential release of battery-related chemicals.