on the morning of 22 december 2014, carlisle was hit by a lorry on the a64 near bishopthorpe, north yorkshire, and was airlifted to leeds general infirmary having suffered cuts, bruises, internal bleeding, a broken rib and a shattered left knee. he had surgery soon after and his wife reported that he was "very poorly" but "alive and stable". burnley and liverpool supporters performed a minute's applause in support of carlisle starting in the fifth minute of their match on 26 december 2014, in reference to carlisle wearing the number five shirt for burnley. on 30 december 2014, it was announced that carlisle was charged with a drink-driving offence on 20 december 2014. he appeared at highbury corner magistrates' court on 20 january 2015. in february 2015, after leaving hospital, carlisle said that he had been trying to kill himself when he was hit by the lorry in december 2014.