On November 12, 2022, ex-Premier League football star Sammy Ameobi, 32, was involved in a hit-and-run incident that left a teenager hospitalized. The accident occurred during morning rush hour as Ameobi was heading to his job as a £360-a-week apprentice.

Ameobi collided his Audi E-Tron, which bore a personalised license plate, with the victim's Citroen C1. Following the crash, he fled the scene, leaving the 19-year-old injured and trapped in the wreckage.

The teenager's family reported that she was propelled into the path of oncoming traffic and suffered undisclosed injuries. She was subsequently rushed to A&E, and her car was deemed a total loss.

After the incident, the teenager’s mother initiated a public appeal for information, highlighting the distinctive SAMM11Y license plate. Police used CCTV footage to locate Ameobi, who was found to be driving without valid insurance.

At Chester Magistrates Court, Ameobi pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and driving without insurance. He was fined £240, ordered to pay £181 in costs, and his license received six penalty points.

Prosecutor Val Tonkinson detailed the events, stating that at 7:10 AM, the victim was driving along Chester Way, Northwich, when another vehicle collided with her car while she was making a turn. The driver did not identify Ameobi’s vehicle.

Police later established that Ameobi was the driver through CCTV evidence and admitted to being behind the wheel at the time of the collision. They confirmed that he had no insurance in place.

Ameobi, representing himself, acknowledged his wrongdoing and expressed that he panicked due to recent personal stress, including a hospital visit with his son the previous night. He claimed he had started a new apprenticeship and was rushing to work.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, there were no prior convictions against Ameobi. He emphasized the oversight regarding his insurance, stating he did not realize he was uninsured until prompted by the court summons.

Ameobi, known for his football career starting with Newcastle United in 2008, played for various teams and represented both Nigeria and England at youth levels. He is also noted for his family's football lineage, with his brothers, Shola and Tomi, being professional players as well.