Alijah Arenas car crash: Video surfaces of fiery impact, rescue attempts

USC commit Alijah Arenas was involved in a terrifying car accident that sent him to the hospital a week ago. He was placed in an induced coma, but he’s since returned home to begin healing from the traumatic moment.

Arenas was driving a Tesla Cybertruck and “inhaled a lot of smoke” after the vehicle caught on fire. The smoke inhalation was the reason for the induced coma and Arenas “suffered no major bodily injuries,” according to High School on SI. Video has now surfaced of the incident, which you can check out below, which was obtained by TMZ Sports.

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As you can tell, it was a terrifying moment for the recruit and his family. His father, Gilbert Arenas, shared the promising news of his return home to social media earlier in the week, thanking the first responders who were on the scene to save his son’s life.

“I want to thank Jose, Bryant, and Robert for saving Alijah – he can’t wait to meet you guys,” Gilbert Arenas wrote on X. “Truly grateful to everyone for the prayers, love, and support during his healing. Much love.

“Funny enough, Alijah told his boys way back: ‘If I’m ever in a coma, don’t bring flowers. Bust in rapping ‘I might swerve, bend that corner, woah’ by Gelo like it’s the national anthem.’ Because nothing screams perfect timing like saying ‘Swerve on that corner, woah’… right after you actually did. Into a tree. Into a hospital stay. WELCOME HOME.”

Arenas plays high school basketball at Chatsworth (Calif.) and is a Five Star Plus+ recruit, meaning he is one of the only players ranked by all major recruiting media companies as a five-star. He is the No. 12 overall player from the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies.

Wednesday, Arenas was officially released from the hospital. His family told TMZ he still has a way to go in his recovery and is getting ready for the road ahead.

“While his journey to full recovery is just beginning, his spirit remains strong, and he is surrounded by love and support,” the family said. “The Govan and Arenas family are preparing for the road ahead with faith and determination, committed to nurturing Alijah back to 100%. He remains blessed, resilient, and in high spirits.”

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.