Uruguayan footballer Dario Silva seriously hurt in car crash

Uruguay international striker Dario Silva, seen here in action in May 2005, has been seriously hurt in a car crash.

Uruguay international striker Dario Silva, who played last season with English Premiership club Portsmouth, has been seriously hurt in a car crash.

Silva underwent surgery on Sunday and was put in an induced coma because of the serious state of his health, said the hospital treating him.

The 33-year-old, who scored 15 goals in his 49 appearances for the national team, was driving his van in the company of former footballers Elbio Pappa and Dard Pereira when the accident occurred in the Uruguayan capital.

Silva, who previously played for Cagliari, Espanyol, Malaga and Sevilla in his 10 years in Europe, was on holidays in his homeland awaiting news of a possible transfer to a new club.