JONESBORO, Ga. -- Former NBA All-Star guard Mookie Blaylock was in critical condition at a hospital late Friday after his SUV crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a van in suburban Atlanta, fatally injuring a passenger in the van, police said.
Blaylock was driving in Jonesboro on Friday when he crashed and was airlifted to the Atlanta Medical Center, said Clayton County police spokesman Clarence Cox.
Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Allen said late Friday that 43-year-old Monica Murphy, a passenger in the van, died just before 10 p.m. Allen said her husband, 41-year-old Frankie Murphy, sustained a broken ankle and was released from the hospital after undergoing treatment.
Blaylock was initially placed on life support at the hospital. But the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Blaylock's condition improved Friday night and he was taken off it. According to the newspaper, Allen said Blaylock is in guarded but critical condition.
Allen told WSB-TV in Atlanta that Blaylock has had "a history of seizures," and police were trying to find out if a seizure may have led to the accident.
The 46-year-old Blaylock was a first-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets out of Oklahoma in 1989.
He played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1992-99, appeared in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game and had his best season in 1996-97, averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 assists.
"We are saddened to hear of the accident today involving Mookie Blaylock and the Murphy family and the ensuing passing of Monica Murphy," the Hawks said in a statement released to the Journal-Constitution. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved."
Blaylock, in 13 NBA seasons with New Jersey, Atlanta and Golden State, averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 assists.
"Prayers out to Mookie Blaylock and his family! Big fan of his as a kid #PG #NBAFamily," Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul tweeted.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.