Panthers' Cam Newton suffers two back fractures in car accident

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon.

Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton said Newton is in fair condition and will remain in the hospital overnight for observation. Dayton said no further tests are scheduled Tuesday.

Asked if Newton's fractures would require surgery, Dayton said, "I did not get that indication."

Several members of the Panthers organization, including team owner Jerry Richardson, came by the hospital but did not get to speak with Newton as the quarterback was undergoing tests. Dayton said he had not seen or spoken with Newton.

Dayton declined to speculate as to whether Newton's back injury would force him to miss playing time.

"Right now, we've thought about Cam's well being and hopefully the well being of someone else in the other car who was injured," Dayton said. "Just hope that they're all OK. We haven't gone there."

Newton was taken by ambulance after his truck rolled over near Bank of America Stadium. Police said he and the driver of a second vehicle "were both transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the cause of the wreck."

The Twitter account of the Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones said he confirmed that Newton was the only person in his Dodge Ram truck at the time of the accident, around 12:30 p.m. ET. The account included photos of Newton being put on a stretcher, of Newton's truck being pulled upright by a tow truck and of front-end damage to a second vehicle, a dark sedan.

The Observer reported that Newton was treated for 20 minutes at the scene before being taken by ambulance. Witness Tony Douglas told the Observer that he saw a Buick sedan and the truck collide. Douglas said the truck flipped several times and came to rest on its passenger side and that he ran to the truck and saw Newton "alert" but "in pain."

Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft by the Panthers after winning the 2010 Heisman Trophy at Auburn. With his passing and running, he became an instant star and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 when he helped the Panthers to the NFC South title.

Last March, Newton had surgery to tighten loose ligaments in his left ankle. During the preseason, he sustained a hairline rib fracture during a game against the New England Patriots. He sat out the Panthers season opener.

Newton has since made 12 starts this season for the 4-8-1 Panthers, passing for 2,812 yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. In Sunday's 41-10 victory at the New Orleans Saints, Newton passed for 226 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 83 yards and a touchdown.