Former Rangers youth lucky to be alive after car crash as Hamilton boss says team-mates will rally round star
Hamilton Accies midfielder Ben Williamson is lucky to be alive after being involved in a serious road traffic accident on Sunday.
And his boss John Rankin says the squad will rally round their team-mate after he sustained a serious injury in a single-vehicle crash in Dunfermline that will sideline him long-term.
The 26-year-old driver was arrested and Ben, 23, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was rushed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
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Rankin did not divulge any details of the incident involving the former Rangers youth player, but revealed the midfielder will play no further part in Hamilton’s Championship campaign.
He said: “First and foremost, the most important thing is that he is alive, that’s what I would say.
“Football and what it means for the squad is irrelevant when one of our players has been in a severe accident.
“My job and the players’ jobs right now are to make sure we can be as supportive to him as possible and help him in the long run.
“I don’t think we will see Ben play again this season.
“Now we need to get around him and offer him the support he needs. They are a tight group and we will make sure that we go and spend time with him in the hospital.
“He needs us now more than ever to get him through a tough period.”
Williamson was an unused substitute during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Airdrieonians, but has made 15 appearances for the Championship club this season.
The squad are currently preparing to face Morton at Cappielow on Saturday.
Rankin added: “We came off the back of a good result at the weekend, everyone was happy and looking forward to the next game but then we came into the news yesterday and it started to filter through to the players.
“We spoke to the players this morning and they are really upset that one of the guys they are really close with and spend a lot of time with, is in a condition that nobody wants to be in.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Officers were called to Queensferry Road, Dunfermline after reports of a crash involving one vehicle at 6.25am on Sunday, 29 December, 2024.
"Both the driver and passenger were taken to hospital. The 26-year-old driver was arrested and enquiries into the incident are ongoing."
