Former Premier League Soccer Star Eljero Elia Escapes Serious Injury in Four-Car Crash in Holland

Former Premier League and Dutch international footballer Eljero Elia narrowly avoided serious injury after being involved in a four-car collision on the A4 motorway near Leiden on Saturday night.

According to local police, the crash occurred around 9:45 p.m. when Elia’s Lamborghini Urus — valued at approximately £270,000 — struck multiple vehicles in the southbound lanes. Authorities confirmed that, despite the severity of the crash, no one suffered life-threatening injuries. Two individuals were transported to the police station for further questioning, and two others were taken for precautionary testing.

Elia, 38, was reportedly among those detained for questioning following the incident. Speaking later to Dutch outlet Omroep West, he said his car had skidded after he attempted to brake suddenly on what he described as a typically quiet stretch of road. “I was driving in a stretch that’s normally quiet around that time,” Elia explained. “I told [the police] what happened and then I went home.”

Local media reports suggest that officers are investigating whether alcohol may have played a role in the collision, though police have not confirmed that as of Monday.

The former winger is best known in England for his brief stint with Southampton in 2015, where he made 17 appearances and scored two goals during a loan spell from Werder Bremen. Over the course of his career, Elia also played for top European clubs including Juventus, Feyenoord, FC Twente, and ADO Den Haag.

A member of the Netherlands national team during their run to the 2010 World Cup Final, Elia earned 30 caps and scored twice for his country. He retired from professional football in 2022 following a serious ankle ligament injury.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

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