Raheem Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide after his £270,000 Lamborghini crashed in May, according to reports. The 31-year-old former Premier League player was arrested at the scene of the incident, which occurred on May 28 on the M3 in Hampshire. If convicted, he could face two years in prison.
Police responded to reports of a Lamborghini swerving on the road shortly before 9 a.m. Footage obtained by the Daily Mail showed the black luxury vehicle moving erratically across three lanes as other drivers maneuvered to avoid it. The driver appeared to be inhaling from a balloon, a method commonly associated with nitrous oxide use.
Sterling allegedly crashed the vehicle into motorway barriers and was subsequently detained by Hampshire Police. He did not provide a sample after his arrest, resulting in an additional charge of failing to supply a specimen.
A spokesman for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen. He is scheduled to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on September 15.
The incident marks a challenging period for Sterling, who left Chelsea in January and has not played since May 2024. He joined Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam in February, but that contract ended in the summer, leaving him without a team.
A motorist who recorded the dashcam footage described the incident, stating that Sterling's vehicle was swerving dangerously and that he was fortunate not to have caused harm to himself or others. Sterling's representatives declined to comment on the matter, but a source close to the player indicated that he has faced significant psychological strain in recent years.
Sterling began his career at QPR and gained prominence at Liverpool before moving to Manchester City in 2015, where he won ten major trophies. He has also represented the England national team 82 times, with his last appearance in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals against France.