Tragic Accident Claims Life of Former LSU Basketball Player Danielle Ballard

Former Louisiana State University basketball player Danielle Ballard died early Thursday morning after she was struck by a vehicle in Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis Police Department said officers responded to a pedestrian hit by a vehicle around 1:26 a.m. and was taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

LSU described Ballard as a “standout basketball player” at the school from 2012 to 2015, where she was a two-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-Defensive team selection. The university said in a statement that Ballard died in a “tragic accident.”

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle,” the university said. “She meant a great deal to our program and was such a big part of our women’s basketball family. It’s difficult to understand why this happened to someone who was so full of life and had so much promise.”

The Memphis Police Department said the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to People. Ballard was on foot when she was hit by a car traveling southbound at the intersection of Coleman Road and Raleigh Lagrange Road, police told the outlet.

Ballard was a native of Memphis and attended White Station High School before attending LSU. She was a two-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-Defensive team selection for the Lady Tigers. She was also a member of the 2015 SEC All-Tournament team.

The Memphis Police Department is still investigating the incident and no further details have been released. Ballard’s family and friends are mourning her loss and remembering her as a “standout” basketball player and a “big part of the women’s basketball family.”