Ex-Ram Ekern Killed in Crash : NFL: The linebacker, who retired after the 1988 season, is found dead near his overturned car in the Mojave Desert. Police said he had run off the road.

RIDGECREST —  Former Rams linebacker Carl Ekern was killed in a single-vehicle traffic accident in the Mojave Desert early today, the California Highway Patrol reported.

A passer-by found Ekern’s vehicle overturned alongside U.S. 395 about 4 a.m., CHP Officer Chris Geiger said.

Ekern, 36, had been thrown from the car and apparently died of head injuries, Geiger added.

The investigating officer said the northbound car had run off the highway at an unknown speed sometime during the night, then over-corrected across both lanes and struck a small dirt berm.

“At that point, the vehicle became airborne and rolled several times,” Geiger said. “During that time, he (Ekern) was ejected and received what appeared to be fatal head injuries.”

The accident occurred about 125 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Kern County, seven miles south of Ridgecrest.

Ekern lived in Fountain Valley.

Ekern was selected in the fifth-round of the 1976 draft and played for the Rams until retiring after the 1988 season. He became a starter in 1981 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1986.

A three-year starter at San Jose State, Ekern was named the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.’s player of the year as a senior.

Ekern had been a Ram starter at inside linebacker from 1981 until his retirement last year.

He led the team in tackles three times and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1986.

Although not blessed with great size and speed, Ekern proved durable in the NFL.

“He’s not big, fast, strong and he’s not a great athlete, Rams defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmer once said. “He’s just a a gifted football player.”

And the smartest player he has ever known, Shurmer said.

Ekern made up for physical liabilities by succeeding in the classroom. He was methodical in his approach to the game, studying films astutely.

“So many guys look at film and don’t know what they’re seeing,” Shurmer said. “It’s like they’re watching like a fan.”

He said Ekern knew what to look for, how a back lined up so he could cheat in his alignment.

The night before every game, Ekern wrote summary reports about his opponent.

Ekern served as the Rams’ elected representative to the NFL Players Assn.