Brandon Spikes
Massachusetts State Police are investigating how the 2011 Mercedes Maybach of Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes wound up abandoned on a highway. Above, Spikes (center) celebrates a sack during the 2011 NFL season. Adam Hunger/Reuters

Massachusetts State Police are investigating how the 2011 Mercedes Maybach of New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes ended up abandoned on a median strip of Interstate 495 in Foxboro, Massachusetts, early Sunday, and whether it had anything to do with a nearby hit-and-run accident. The vehicle was reported to police around 3:30 a.m. by an OnStar representative after the driver of the car called in to say he or she had struck a deer. It remains unclear who was driving the car, which is registered to Spikes, and although there was damage to the front end of the Maybach, police said they did not find any deer in the area.

Police also received a call at 3:30 a.m. regarding a 2009 Nissan Murano that was traveling on I-495 when it was suddenly struck by a vehicle the passengers did not see coming. The accident sent the three occupants of the vehicle -- a 51-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy -- to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Police said the Murano was found in the same area as Spikes' car.

“The investigation will seek to determine whether there is any connection between the reported incidents,” said David Procopio, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police, according to the Boston Herald. “No connection has yet been definitively established.”

Spikes, 27, has yet to address the matter while Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the Herald the team is "aware of the report and are looking into the matter."

Spikes was drafted by the Patriots in 2010 and played for them through the 2013 season before spending 2014 with the Buffalo Bills. Spikes agreed to return with the Patriots three weeks ago when he signed a one-year contract with the team.