Dramatic video captured by a nearby security camera and multiple bystander phones shows former Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides being carefully loaded into an ambulance on a stretch of Interstate 65 just south of Indianapolis late Thursday evening following a violent multi-vehicle collision.
The 49-year-old coach, who guided the Fever to their first playoff appearance in eight years during the 2024 season before the team parted ways with her that October, was reportedly driving alone when the chain-reaction crash unfolded around 9:40 p.m. Witnesses described a sudden pile-up involving at least four vehicles during light rain. One motorist said Sides’ SUV appeared to be struck from behind and then pushed into the path of another car, causing significant damage to the driver’s side.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes. The circulating footage shows first responders working methodically around the wreckage before carefully extricating Sides and placing her on a stretcher. She is seen being wheeled into the waiting ambulance under bright emergency lights as paramedics continue treatment. No official statement has confirmed the extent of her injuries, though early reports from sources at the scene indicated she was conscious and communicating with medical personnel before transport to a nearby trauma center.
Indiana State Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and that alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Traffic in both directions was heavily delayed for more than two hours while crews cleared the debris.
Sides built a respected coaching résumé over more than two decades, including assistant roles with the Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream, and several college programs, before taking the Fever head-coaching job. After her departure from Indiana, she joined the Canadian national team staff as an assistant. Friends and former colleagues expressed concern online as the video spread rapidly Friday morning.
“She’s tough and a fighter—we’re all praying for a full recovery,” one former player posted. The Fever organization and current coaching staff have not yet issued a public comment.
As of Friday afternoon, hospital officials had not released an official update on Sides’ condition. Investigators continue to review dash-cam and traffic-camera footage to determine the precise sequence of events that turned a routine evening drive into a nightmarish scene captured on camera for the world to see. Fans of women’s basketball and the broader sports community are awaiting further word on the popular coach’s health.
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