Associated Press

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Wrestler Hulk Hogan's son turned himself in Wednesday on charges stemming from a street-racing crash this summer that critically injured a passenger in his car, police said.

Nick Bollea, 17, was arrested on charges of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury, Clearwater police spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts said. He arrived at the Pinellas County Jail handcuffed and accompanied by two police officers, The Tampa Tribune reported.

"Because Nick is still a juvenile and has no prior criminal record, we are disappointed that he is being charged as an adult offender. However, we are confident that the evidence will demonstrate that this was an accident," family spokesman Adam Handelsman said in a written statement.

The statement also sought to discredit reports that Bollea caused the crash by driving fast, saying preliminary expert reports indicated that it was not a high-speed accident.

Police said Bollea was racing his father's 1998 Toyota Supra against a Dodge Viper on Aug. 26 when the car Bollea was driving struck a curb, spun across two lanes of traffic and slammed rear-end first into a palm tree. His passenger, John Graziano, was critically injured.

Graziano, 22, suffered a broken skull and has been comatose at Bayfront Medical Center, according to medical professionals who examined him and submitted reports on his condition to court.

In addition to the reckless driving charge, authorities cited Bollea for using a motor vehicle in commission of a felony, being a driver under 21 while operating a vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of .02 percent or higher and having illegal window tinting. The blood-alcohol level at which Florida law presumes a driver to be impaired is .08 percent.

"Nick will meet and answer these charges in the appropriate arena a court of law," attorneys Sandy Weinberg Jr. and Kevin Hayslett said a statement released on their client's behalf.

The Viper's driver, 22-year-old Daniel Jacobs, did not directly cause the crash but was summoned to court for a reckless driving charge.

Hulk Hogan picked up his son from the jail after a brief news conference.



He lucky he wasnt in MY JAIL...locked up barefoot and shirtless waiting for me

He is an arrogant little MF. It was about time he was booked.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

its that attitude that make him so damn sexy

Wow, I'll bet Hulk put the smackdown on his ass for doing that. I don't know if you've ever seen the show "Hogan Knows Best", but Hulk seems to be pretty strict and controlling with his two kids.

How is he 17 but he looks 45?

bboy87 said:

Oh my gawd, you have bad taste. But thats good for the little fucker. Hopefully they put his azz in jail and throw away the key!! Dumbazz trying to race on a public street!!

cheeseburger said:

Nah ah!!! He is real handsome! That's y girls be wanting him all the time

paisleypark4 said:

hmmmm...I thought it was because:
1.He's rich
2.He's Hulk Hogan's son
3.He has a television show

bboy87 said:

You took the words right out of my mouth. He 17 but look over 30!! This guy paisley park4 has real serious issues with looks

If I was Gay I would be going after Chris Brown the singer, or Menudo singers!!

cheeseburger said:[quote]

bboy87 said:

You took the words right out of my mouth. He 17 but look over 30!! This guy paisley park4 has real serious issues with looks

If I was Gay I would be going after Chris Brown the singer, or Menudo singers!![/quote]


[Edited 11/8/07 11:08am]

paisleypark4 said:

Sexy? I see him on my list of 3 celebrities I would never have sex with. But then again he is not really a celebrity, he is the spoiled bratty son of a celebrity.

yes, he's arrogant...yes, he fucked up but there seems to be an overwhelming mob mentality when it comes to this dude...except for the money, he's not much different than alot of teenage boys...he's young and very dumb...and he made a very big mistake...there are young people from all walks of life hauling ass up and down down the road in the car that mommy and daddy bought 'em, doing stupid shit and yes, hurting people...

there has been more than one instance of teens having accidents and causing serious injury to others here in my area...it of course is a teribble situation for everyone involved...but it happens more than most folks realize...

I think its highly unlikely he will serve time over this...most likely a lengthy probation, hefty fines and likely lose his license for many years..and, imo, thats fair...I'm sure this won't be a popular stance but I believe the passenger is just as responsible for his condition as Nick is...he knew Nick well and had been part of Nicks racing pit crew...with that in mind I would think he was a willing participant in what was going on at the time...he was not wearing a seat belt...Nick was wearing a seat belt and was unharmed...chances are the passenger would have been ok to if he had been wearing a seatbelt...
[Edited 11/8/07 15:14pm]

Bollea? So their last name isn't Hogan?


What a freakin' disappointment!