Nick Adenhart, rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, was killed early Thursday, April 9, by an alleged drunk driver.
Adenhart, 22, and three friends were driving south in Fullerton, California, a few miles from the Angels Stadium. A red minivan ran a red light and stuck their car broadside, sending it spinning into a power pole. Two of the Eclipse’s passengers died at the scene while Adenhart was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
The minivan’s driver fled the scene, but was captured by police about a mile away. He faces charges of manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run. Incidents involving a failure to heed red lights at intersections are common in the Los Angeles area.
Adenhart and his companions had spent the late evening at a nearby dance club. Just hours before, he had pitched six innings of scoreless baseball for the Angels, his first start of the 2009 season. His father had flown out from Adenhart’s home in Williamsport, Maryland, to see the game.
Turns out the driver of the other car was drunk, the pitcher’s car had a sober driver.
Taking my wife home from the hospital a few weeks back when she had been ill. She had been discharged downtown at 4:30 am. Driving behind a Jeep and the red light approaches – the Jeep just plows right through it, does not even notice – comes within inches of t-boning a taxi cab full of passengers, taxi swerved to avoid it. Jeep kept going down the road – slowly swerving from side to side. Only proving your point, nothing good happens after 2am.
The poor kid. They got the guy who did it and it turns out he flunked out of rehab from his first DUI.