NBA: Car accident claims sister of Celtics star Isaiah Thomas as playoffs begin

Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets. Photo/Getty Images

The 22-year-old sister of Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas died in a car accident Saturday morning in Federal Way, Washington, family friends told the Tacoma News Tribune.

The Celtics issued this statement on Twitter:

We are terribly saddened by the tragic loss of Chyna Thomas. The thoughts & prayers of the entire organization are with Isaiah & his family.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 16, 2017

According to the News Tribune, Chyna Thomas died at the scene of an accident on the shoulder of the I-5 at around 5am Saturday.

A Washington State Patrol spokesman said the car was being driven normally at first and then "all of a sudden, it started to drift very casually onto the left shoulder" and then hit a barrier, which "vaulted the vehicle head-on into the sign post".

Chyna Thomas was reportedly not wearing her seat belt.

Isaiah Thomas, who is considered an outside chance for NBA Most Valuable Player honours, and the Eastern Conference top-seeded Celtics open their playoff series against the Chicago Bulls today in Boston.