University of Denver guard Coban Porter charged with vehicular homicide

University of Denver guard Coban Porter was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and reckless driving following a fatal car accident Sunday, according to the Denver Post. He is the younger brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.

The crash occurred at 1:54 a.m. in Denver and killed the driver of another vehicle, 42-year-old Katharina Rothman, as well as causing serious injuries to a passenger. Coban Porter was booked into the Denver jail but has since been released on a $20,000 bond.

Denver police allege that Coban Porter was driving 50 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone when he ran a red light and crashed into the other vehicle. According to the police report, Coban Porter had “bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred and mumbling speech, and the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.” Investigators drew his blood-alcohol level, though those results are still pending.

A sophomore at Denver, Coban Porter has not played this season after suffering a torn ACL in the offseason. As a freshman in 2021-22, he averaged 11.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game.

Michael Porter Jr. did not play in Sunday night’s game against Oklahoma City for what was described as “personal reasons” by the team. However, there is nothing to indicate he was involved in any way with the accident.

“This is a tragic and heartbreaking situation, and our deepest sympathies are with those involved in the accident, their families, and friends,” a University of Denver spokesperson said in a statement. “All the resources of our campus and broader community, including counseling services, are available to any DU community member in need of assistance 24/7.”

The Denver Pioneers basketball team is next scheduled to face Oral Roberts on Thursday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As of now, that contest is still expected to take place.