Richard Keogh ruled out for season with injury suffered in alleged car crash which saw Derby team-mates charged with drink-driving

Richard Keogh has been ruled out for the season after being involved in an alleged car crash with Derby team-mate Tom Lawrence earlier this week.

Lawrence was, along with Mason Bennett, charged with drink-driving following a collision on the A6 in Derby, with the Wales international's Range Rover Sport understood to have hit a lamppost.

According to the Telegraph, Keogh was in the back seat of Lawrence's car which struck the lamppost, and he's been left with injuries as a result of the incident.

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Derby announced on Thursday that club captain Keogh sustained a serious knee injury which will keep him sidelined until the end of the season.

The Championship club have launched an internal investigation into the incident, which occurred following a night out sanctioned by the club.

A Rams statement read: "The players were out as part of a scheduled team-building dinner with staff and while the majority of them acted responsibly and left at around 8pm and were not involved, a small group, including the team captain Richard Keogh, continued drinking into the night. They should have known when to stop and also ignored the opportunity to be driven home using cars laid on by the club, and chose to stay out.

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"The players involved in the incident on Tuesday evening will be subject to a rigorous internal investigation under the club’s code of conduct and disciplinary procedures, but over and above any punishment they receive we will be expecting them to become involved with the excellent work the Community Trust does helping the communities we serve.

"We have been very clear about our attitude towards alcohol and the players know that at certain and specific times of the season they are permitted a drink together as a group in a controlled environment.

"Those involved in Tuesday’s incident know they will pay a heavy price for their actions, but also that we will support them with their rehabilitation back into the squad and team.

"We fully support the work of our partners at Drinkaware and the unsanctioned actions of this small group of players is totally at odds the stance that both Drinkaware and Derby County Football Club take regards alcohol. We will be using this situation to redouble our efforts in highlighting the dangers posed by alcohol.

"We would also like to thank the emergency services for their swift help."

Following the incident, Derbyshire Police released a statement reading: "Two men have been charged with drink driving after a collision involving a Range Rover Sport and a Mercedes GLC at the junction of Burley Hill and the A6 at Allestree, last night shortly before midnight (Tuesday, 24 September).

"Mason Bennett, 23, of Whaley Thorns near Mansfield and Tom Lawrence, 25, of Duffield were arrested at the scene and charged earlier today. They are due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 15 October at 9.30am."