The ex-girlfriend of an American football star is fighting for her life after being hit by a car 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 3am on February 25.
The British woman, who moved to the US last year with her then boyfriend Indiana Vassilev, got out of her car when a gunfight broke out.
Bentley took cover and hid under a nearby vehicle as bullets began flying in St. Louis’ eclectic Grove neighborhood.
But unbeknownst to her, the car she took refuge in was occupied with 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 becoming involved in a shootout in February
Bentley’s ex-boyfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS side St. Louis FC. He previously played for Aston Villa
The bullets started flying in St. Louis’ eclectic Grove neighborhood
Bentley was hit as the vehicle took off, dragging her down the road for two blocks.
She was rushed to hospital after suffering several 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 undergo more surgeries in the near future.
Her attorney, Ben Tobin, said her road to recovery will be long.
“She had just gotten 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 her, hit her, ran her over and dragged her for a few blocks.”
Bentley was dragged under a car for two blocks; she had moved to the US with her then-boyfriend, Indiana Vassilev, who played for St. Louis FC
Ellie Bentley had recently graduated from York University with a degree in mathematics and physics
Tobin said Bentley had no connection to any of the parties involved in the shooting and 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 laying there trying to hold on and do what she could so she didn’t get thrown under the wheel.”
Tobin noted how video footage appeared to show that the driver who struck Bentley was well aware of her presence as he fled the scene, running her over in the process.
“Based on the video, there is no way the person who hit, ran over and dragged her could claim that he did not know she was under the vehicle when he left,” he said.
Police responded to reports that a group had tried to get into the wrong car, leading to the shooting.
Bentley was caught in the crossfire, crashing under a nearby car and injured when the driver took off and dragged her two blocks down the road.
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I loved dancing, going to the gym and yoga, and spent two to three hours a day on physical fitness. Now I cannot move my legs or my right arm,” Bentley said in a statement through her attorney
Police say a 35-year-old man fired shots, wounding a 25-year-old man, who was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
Bentley was injured by another car driven by another 25-year-old man, who fled when the shooting began.
While the driver of the hit-and-run has been arrested, the suspect in the shooting remains on the run.
Bentley, originally from Bingham, east of Nottingham, moved to Missouri last year when Vassilev, 23, joined MLS side St. Louis FC.
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Vassilev played two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City in 2023
Vassilev, originally from Savannah, Georgia, signed for Villa from 2020 but made just four appearances, leaving the team on loan to play for Burton Albion and then Cheltenham Town.
He eventually returned to the United States in 2021 and played two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City last year.
Bentley graduated from York University last summer with a degree in mathematics and physics.
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I loved dancing, going to the gym and yoga, and spent two to three hours a day on physical fitness. Now I cannot move my legs or my right arm,” Bentley said in a statement through her attorney.
Her family has since traveled from Britain to be by her side as she continues to recover GoFundMe page set up to help pay for rising medical costs.