U.S. Soccer forward Charlie Davies seriously injured in car crash

      A fatal car accident in Virginia early Tuesday could impact U.S. hopes of achieving anything significant at soccer's 2010 World Cup in South Africa. American forward Charlie Davies, among the team's most promising players in the last year, was severely injured in the 3:15 a.m. crash on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Washington. Another passenger, Ashley J. Roberta, 22, of Phoenix, Md., was killed in the crash.

      Police said neither Roberta nor Davies was driving. The unidentified female driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, which hit a guardrail and split in half. Davies, 23, underwent more than five hours of surgery at Washington Hospital Center after being airlifted there by helicopter. He was listed in "serious but stable" condition Tuesday after treatment for a lacerated bladder, fractures to the tibia and femur bones in his right leg, facial fractures and a left elbow fracture.

       He may not return for next summer's World Cup in South Africa. Thoughts and Prayers go out to him and his family.