An American football star’s ex-girlfriend is fighting for her life following a hit-and-run after being caught in the crossfire of a shootout on the streets of St. Louis.
Ellie Bentley, 22, finally regained consciousness on Saturday after spending two weeks in intensive care following the horror incident at 03.00 on February 25.
The British woman, who moved to the US last year with her then-boyfriend Indiana Vassilev, was leaving his car when gunfire erupted.
Bentley dashed for cover and hid under a nearby vehicle as bullets began to fly in the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis.
But unbeknownst to her, the car she took refuge under was occupied by the male driver who fled in an attempt to escape the pandemonium.
Ellie Bentley, 22, from England was involved in a life-threatening hit-and-run incident in St. Louis, Missouri, after being caught in a gunfight in February
Bentley’s ex-girlfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS side St. Louis FC. He had previously played with Aston Villa
The bullets started flying in the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis
Bentley was struck as the vehicle took off, dragging her along the road for two blocks.
She was rushed to hospital after suffering multiple broken limbs and was placed in intensive care for two weeks before finally being released on Saturday.
Bentley has since undergone five major reconstructive surgeries and will have additional surgeries in the near future.
Her lawyer, Ben Tobin, said her road to recovery will be long.
‘She had just got out of a car when the shooting started,’ he explained The sun.
‘She ducked behind another vehicle until the shooting stopped, but then the person whose car she was hiding behind floored it, hit her, ran over her and dragged her a couple of blocks.’
Bentley was dragged under a car for two blocks; she had moved to the USA with her then boyfriend, Indiana Vassilev, who played for St. Louis FC
Ellie Bentley had recently graduated from the University of York with a degree in Mathematics and Physics
Tobin said Bentley had no connection to any of the parties involved in the shooting and that he was simply an unfortunate bystander.
“She was pretty sure she was going to die when she was dragged under the vehicle,” he said.
‘The whole time she was lying there trying to hold on and do what she could so she didn’t end up being thrown out from under the wheel.’
Tobin noted how video footage appeared to show the driver who hit the Bentley was well aware of her presence as he fled the scene, running her over in the process.
“Based on the video, there’s no way for the person who hit her and ran her over and dragged her to argue that he didn’t know she was under the vehicle when he took off,” he said.
Police responded to the scene after reports that a group had tried to get into the wrong car – leading to the shooting.
Caught in the crossfire under a nearby car, Bentley was injured when the driver took off and dragged her down the road for two blocks
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dancing, going to the gym and yoga and spent two to three hours a day on physical fitness. Now I can’t move my legs or my right arm,’ Bentley said in a statement through his lawyer
Police say a 35-year-old man fired shots, injuring a 25-year-old man who was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound.
Bentley was injured by a separate car, driven by another 25-year-old man, who fled when the shooting started.
While the hit-and-run driver has been arrested, the shooting suspect is still at large.
Bentley, originally from Bingham, east of Nottingham, moved to Missouri last year when Vassilev, 23, joined MLS side St. Louis FC.
Vassilev, originally from Savannah, Georgia, played two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City in 2023
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Vassilev signed for Villa from 2020 but made just four appearances with the team having been loaned out to play for Burton Albion and then Cheltenham Town.
He finally returned to the United States in 2021 and played two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City last year.
Bentley, meanwhile, graduated last summer from the University of York with a degree in mathematics and physics.
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dancing, going to the gym and yoga and spent two to three hours a day on physical fitness. Now I can’t move my legs or my right arm,’ Bentley said in a statement through his lawyer.
Her family have since traveled from the UK to be by her side as she continues to recover, with a GoFundMe page created to help pay for rising medical expenses.