Celebrity Justice
Nick Hogan Crash: A Tale of the Tape

Nick Hogan's camp is trying to turn the tide of public opinion by offering up exclusive new video shot just a few hundred feet from the sensational August 26 crash that left his former Marine buddy in a vegetative state.


The images, captured by a nearby security camera, appear to show Hogan's yellow Toyota Supra and another silver Dodge Viper, driven by pal Daniel Jacobs, stopped at a red light mere seconds before the smash-up. Then, they contend, Jacobs' ride momentarily got stuck behind a stalled car. That could contradict eyewitness reports that the Hogster and his buddy were drag racing.

Nick's attorney, Kevin Hayslett, spoke exclusively to TMZ and told us exactly what he thinks the video proves.

"This video is so important," Hayslett says, "because there are people that law enforcement relied upon who said that Nick was driving a particular way on this particular stretch of road. They are claiming that he was speeding during that time period, driving recklessly, losing control of his car. One witness even claims he got to the intersection on Missouri Avenue and Court Street and had to slam on his brakes and nearly went into oncoming traffic.

The allegation of street racing is totally inconsistent with the video. If there is any race going on, even if the Viper was in a race, Nick wouldn't know he was in it because he was so far ahead. That videotape is a complete 180 from what people claim happened and if they are wrong on that, how can we be sure they are right on other things?

I think eyewitness testimony is the least reliable. That's why we have instant replay in football."

Reader Comments

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31. this was an accident! plain and simple. the marine wasnt wearing his seatbelt and nick was. thats why the marine is in a vegitative state and nick is perfectly fine. If this was such a "high speed" crash, nick would have been injured regardless of wearing a seatbelt or not. His friend had nothing holding him back from hitting the dashboard, or flying out a window, and it was his fault for not being responsible enough to put it on. this tape shows nick stopping next to his freind to wait for him. look closely and you'll see the stalled car infront of his friends car. as soon as the stalled car moved so did nick and his freind. stepping on the gas at the same time right next to each other doesnt automatically mean your drag racing. it means you pulled next to your friend, stopped, and waited for him. everyone needs to lay off nick and focus on the facts. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. thats the only lesson learned here.

Posted at 5:34PM on Nov 8th 2007 by chels

32. bad parenting........thats all it is.......kids are spoiled brats and get whatever they want........but dont think this will stop things........this kid will kill someone behind the wheel of a car one day

Posted at 5:35PM on Nov 8th 2007 by bill

33. The bashing of the family is due to the press release blaming this kid who is lying in a coma with a permanent brain injury and the total lack of taking ANY responsibility for this tragic accident. That press release (about the seat belt) was inexcusable.

Posted at 5:39PM on Nov 8th 2007 by duh

34. What I meant to say was I doubt the crash happened "mere seconds" after this video was shot.

Posted at 5:40PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Just me

35. Nick has an extensive history of driving recklessly. He was proud of it. Now he has effectively killed someone.

Seems to me that he and his family have much bigger things to be concerned with than public opinion.

He belongs in prison.

Posted at 5:43PM on Nov 8th 2007 by ellie

36. Maybe its just me but the car in front of the silver Viper looks like it could be his dad's green Supra. Most people don't know that the Hogan's actually owned a pair of them with the green one belonging to the dad (both cars were featured in an article in an import tuner magazine a couple of years ago). It's really hard to tell with such a lo-res video though.

Posted at 5:49PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Angel

37. Ahhh… to blame or not to blame.
The truth is, accidents like this happen everyday all over the world!
Is the driver guilty? Probably. Is the media blowing it way out of proportion as always… definitely!
This just goes to show what’s wrong with television and entertainment in today’s day and age in general. I mean… why is the Hogan show even on the air?!
It doesn’t deserve the space it takes up. Not only has it created yet another half hour of the day for people to get fatter and lazier in front of mind-numbing bad TV, but it has also put even more stress and more of the spotlight on an already high profile family. All for what? Does the Hulkster need more money and publicity?! Because his kids are now living their lives under tremendous strain. They have joined the world of people who are celebrities for no good reason whatsoever! With his daughter’s poor excuse of a musical career and his son just lost for direction… WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?!
Many people might be jealous of their fame and fortune, but make no mistake…. Their lives are not easier than ours.
I am by no means excusing the actions of the young Hogan, but we need to really look at the big picture here.
He is to blame, Hulk Hogan is to blame, the media is to blame…. And WE are to blame for buying into this crap!

Posted at 5:47PM on Nov 8th 2007 by The Angry Blogger

38. GO TO BAYNEWS 9 ----THEY HAVE A LOT MORE DETAILS AND COVERAGE----OUT OF FLORIIDA----

Posted at 5:50PM on Nov 8th 2007 by lisasagitt

39. daddy will keep him out of jail..........its a shame cause the kid belongs there

Posted at 5:46PM on Nov 8th 2007 by bill

40. # 27 John G didnt bump his head, His head snapped off at the base.when they hit the tree. The headrest of the chair snapped off too. So yea wearing a seatbelt probably wouldn't have helped him. Remember the BACKEND is what slammed into tree. wasnt the front end. Nice try though. Nick hogan n family can look but won't find anyone to BLAME by NICK.. DRUNK DRIVING,RACING = BIG TROUBLE Unless the Florida Courts decide to K-i-ss the Hogans A-s-s

Posted at 5:49PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Another day of Britney B-u-ll-sh-i-t

41. Well BIG DEAL he wasn't accused of running a Red-Light? He was accused of Drag-Racing moments later. What next; surveilence of him walking out his front-door that morning? What would that prove? Nothing! I remember causing a fender-bender once. Red-light after Red-light that morning. I suppose there could have been surveilence pictures of light after light? Wouldn't prove anything and wouldn't have anything to do with my fender-bender. PS - most drag-races begin with 2-cars (side by side) egging each other on, the light turns Green and peddle to the metal. If that's his evidence, that sure enough it appears like he really romped it when the light turned Green? Not a good defense at all. It all goes back to that old saying that lawyers have: When the facts are not on your side, throw up smoke screens (diversions) anything to distract from the facts...Thank you...

Posted at 5:49PM on Nov 8th 2007 by sandman

42. that video showed nothing. how long would it take a car like that to go from 0-60? the harder the try the worse they look. i would just give it up.

Posted at 5:51PM on Nov 8th 2007 by skeptical at best

43. #27- Chels

Oh, seatbelts the only lesson, huh? Then speeding and driving under the influence are ok then?

Look- it's pretty clear that there are some minions from the Hogan camp posting on here, trying to prop up Nicky's version- maybe they promised you a spot on the show, or maybe you just truly don't have a clue;

But facts are facts, and all of this posturing will mean nothing in court when prosecutors show a tape of John's current state.

Little Nicky needs to do some time, the Hogans need to compensate John and his family for their losses, and justice needs to be served.

Even while he's blowing his cellmate three times a day, Little Nicky will still be having a better life than John.

Posted at 5:51PM on Nov 8th 2007 by j

44. What a waste of a perfectly good Supra. They are nearly impossible to find nowadays. Nick should be drawn and quartered for disrespect of a *swwweeeeeet* ride. (Yeah, not to mention veggifying his friend.) Down with bratty and spoiled celebuspawn!!!! You know damn well if it were anyone else, they'd be in prison already.

Posted at 6:06PM on Nov 8th 2007 by raceMEimaGIRl

45. Okay a few things here:

1- Nick Hogan is a spoiled rich kid. I'm sure he'll get out of it and never learn his lesson. However, they media is being ridiculous. I wonder what percent of teens his age have ever drank and then drove or race their friends or do stupid things in their cars...I'll bet the majority.

2-People relax with the Marine comments! Is the kid really a "war hero." Being in a war doesn't make you a hero. I don't know him personally but I doubt he said "okay sign my up to defend democracy and ship to oversees." Most people join the military either to get money for college or because they don't want to go to college and have little choices. Also, because he's forced to fight in a war doesn't make him a hero. Rescuing someone under fire or actually protecting people does. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Posted at 9:38PM on Nov 8th 2007 by Jeff

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