Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in hit-and-run

Horrific news. From Mike DiGiovanna and Ruben Vives of The Times.

Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart was among the three killed in a crash in Fullerton when a driver ran a red light, an associate of the rookie player said this morning. The crash occurred only hours after the 22-year-old appeared in Wednesday night's Angels game.

The accident occurred shortly after midnight at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street in Fullerton, said Lt. Craig Brower of the Fullerton Police Department.

Several witnesses told police the driver of a red minivan ran a red light at the intersection, hitting a silver Mitsubishi carrying four passengers. Two people in the Mitsubishi were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, authorities said. Two others also in the Mitsubishi were taken to a nearby hospital, where one was later pronounced dead, Brower said.

The driver of the minivan fled on foot, but police found him about a mile away and took him into custody on suspicion of hit-and-run, Brower said. Further charges are pending as the investigation continues, he said. ...

More reports here and here. It's the second tragedy to take place after an Angels game in two days, along with the death of a fan following a postgame fight, and another in a history of too-soon passings for the Angels. My deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of all the victims.

Update: From CNN:

The minivan's driver fled the scene and was later arrested, Brower said. Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside will face charges of manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run, he said.

* * * 

Dodger Thoughts, March 22, 2007:

No matter how great you were in the past ...

• Give up too many runs in a game - get booed.
• Leave your team for another team - get booed.
• Fall asleep at the wheel with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit - get a standing ovation.

I'm a forgiving person, which is why I don't boo anyone. But you want to know something? I'd actually rather have someone fail on the baseball field than fail to realize they are putting other people's lives in jeopardy. Maybe you have to get slammed at a traffic light by a drunken fool going 80 miles per hour on a city street to feel that way, but it's the truth.

So you know what? You want to support La Russa? Fine. You want to forgive him? Fine. But make him work a little for it, man. Make him earn it.

It's up to all of us to make sure we take the problem of driving under the influence seriously.

Comments

[Tripon]

This is awful.

[SteelMohawk]

This is a bad day for all of baseball, let alone the LA area.

[DaDoughboy]

Shocking. Just shocking. My stomach has been in knots all morning. Condolences to the Adenhart family...

[cargill06]

The news is reporting the Adenhart was the one who was alive and transported to the hospital and later died. Also, the driver of the minivan was intoxicated.

[fanerman]

That's horrible!

[kinbote]

My deepest condolences to all affected.

[LogikReader]

The Angels can't play the game tonight... no way. This is the most shocking death in mlb since Daryl Kile... easily.

Anyone remember that day? Joe Girardi, then a Cubs catcher, went up to the mic and told the wrigley faithful that the game was postponed. what a touching moment....

[LogikReader]

This is just terrible, awful, sad news. There's no way around it... I feel terrible just thinking about it.

[johnniebbaker]

reminds me of mike miley and lyman bostok. the angels may be champions now, but this reminds me of the old angels. unfortunate.

[underdog]

So, so sad. Condolences to everyone.

I assume they kind of have to play tonight's game but it's gonna be tough for them.

I am sure that I am preaching to the choir here but this is just another (daily) reminder that people should not drive while intoxicated in any way. Tragedies and near tragedies like this happen all the time because of this kind of dangerous stupidity. I've had a few close shaves myself, and lost a friend this way. It makes me so angry. Hand those keys over.

[Craig88USC]

So sorry for Nick and his loving family. (Tmz had this too - "Nick was 22 years old...
Nick pitched his ass off last night, striking out 5 guys in 6 scoreless innings. His performance was hailed by sportswriters as a "brilliant effort by a 22-year-old right-hander making his fourth Major League start."
So sad. Rest in peace.

[MollyKnight]

I am so angry right now.

[Tripon]

"The minivan's driver fled the scene and was later arrested, Brower said. Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside will face charges of manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run, he said."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/04/09/adenhart.killed/index.html?cnn=yes

[Eric Stephen]

Really terrible news. So sad.

[EMDarrow]

I guess its debatable how related this is, but every time I hear about something like this, I wonder just why the laws regarding DUIs are so lax. I've seen people who have been busted for upwards of a half dozen DUIs and barely get a slap on the wrist for it.

People who get behind the wheel while drunk are playing Russian roulette with the lives of everyone they encounter, and just because pulling the trigger results in a click instead of a boom shouldn't forgive the fact that they still pulled that trigger.

[Landonkk]

This news has struck me pretty hard simply because I am such a baseball fan. I don't even want to think about how it would feel to be an Angels fan. We follow these guys so closely (especially rookies) that they almost feel like personal friends. My thoughts go out to not only the families, but also the teams personnel, players and fans.

[Craig88USC]

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

[Ken Noe]

Awful, awful, awful story. And senseless.

[underdog]

This was a great suggestion from BH, hope he doesn't mind my passing it on. If they play the game, the Angels can make a strong statement tonight by suspending alcohol sales at the stadium. Moreno can afford it. Seriously, who's got an in with the Angels?

[Alex41592]

Not fair. This is just not fair.

[cargill06]

Tripon,

It appears your long link completely messed up my browser, anyone else having the same problem?

[cargill06]

Tripon,

It appears your long link completely messed up my browser, anyone else having the same problem?

[cargill06]

Nevermind.

[underdog]

nope, cargill, though it did make you post twice. ;-)

[ucladodger]

Just awful news. The even sadder thing is that this sort of thing happens every day but we just don't hear about it. RIP Nick.

[Craig88USC]

The Angels will do the right thing. They all must be so devasted and heartbroken to lose not only their young player but their friend.

[fanerman]

cargill, my browser got messed up for a minute there, but I don't think it was from Tripon's link.

[uclaisthebest123]

underdog, that's a great idea, and while I kinda doubt it would happen, it would send a great message and would be an awesome gesture from the Angels.

[jpg]

Was a time when the Angels seemed to be a bad luck team but I thought that had been put in the past. I feel like I did when I heard Lyman Bostock was shot and killed. Just watched him pitch last night and was thinking how the Angels have had such a solid pipeline of good young pitchers this decade.

[Prosecutor]

So so sad. Very close to where I grew up too.

This is on the verge of a Rule 5 violation, but DUIs are not punished nearly harshly enough for me. We seriously need to rethink our DUI laws.

[Sean Chandra]

EMDarrow 9:29

dui laws aren't lax. it's enforcement that's lax. there's just not enough room in the jails to enforce mandatory jail time for duis, so people are allowed to do community service or pay fines instead of jail time.

OC is one of the toughest counties for duis and people can still escape with no jail time on a first offense.

[cargill06]

I'm sure this is the last thing the Angels are concerned about, but man has their pitching staff has been devestated this year. With Santana, Lackey, and now this.

[Craig88USC]

...And, of course we all offer sincere condolences to ALL three families who lost loved ones last night after midnight. God bless you and so so sorry for all three precious young lifes lost.

[GoBears]

I get the sentiment behind the idea of the suspension of alcohol sales for one game. One potential complication is that it could be interpreted as an acknowledgment that, for the other 80 games, the team is contributing to the problem. If it's the right thing to do to cut it off for a night, why not permanently? Obviously, that's bad for business, but that's the question that such a gesture would raise.

[DXMachina]

So sad. Condolences to the families.

[VA Blueblood]

Sean Chandra--well then, it's time to prioritize. If our legal system can't create a sufficient deterrent for DUI, then I have to question the efficacy of said legal system as a whole.

10 years mandatory for 1st offense. Lifetime for 2nd. DUI would disappear overnight. Right?

[Phenomenal Smith]

The Angels are having a press conference at 10:30 to address the death of Adenhart.

[KG16]

I got nothing.

Condolences.

[tm]

Condolences...

[Vinnie Tremonti]

Driving under the influence is just inexcusable. There are too many alternatives to be caught in this situation. Have a DD, call a taxi cab, or how about this revolutionary thought... Don't drink that night if you don't have a driver! Go out, have a good time, and make sure you don't put yourself and, more importantly, other people at risk. It might be an inconvienance to either A. call a cab or B. not drink that night, but it sure beats the alternative of a horrific tragedy like this.

RIP Nick Adenhart and I hope people think of it in the context of his family and their loss of a loved one more so than the fact that he was a baseball player.

[Craig88USC]

Alcohol is not the problem. Criminal lack of responsibility and plain old commen sense are where there lies it all, imo.

[underdog]

What Vinnie said.

Btw, BH wrote a great email to the Angels with that suggestion of closing off alcohol if they play tonight (or for whenever the makeup game is -- seems unlikely they play tonight). Kudos to you my friend.

[Humma Kavula]

This conversation is getting dangerously close to Rule 5 territory. I have a lot of opinions here and out of respect for Jon's rules, not to mention the tragedy itself, I am struggling to hold them back.

VA Blueblood, give us some good news and tell us that your back is feeling better -- or at least that a full day's worth of day baseball is easing the pain.

[fanerman]

HK, some good news is that Clayton Kershaw makes his season debut in 2 hours.

[Kevinp]

Driving to work I heard this reported on 790am and I threw my hands over my face. Some of my best friends are Angels fans and I was honestly more enthusiastic than my friends to see Nick (I referred to him as "your Kershaw" to my buddies) take a full season under his belt. This is so awful and it really makes me sad. My thoughts and prayers are with the Adenhart family and the entire Angels organization. So tragic.

[Craig88USC]

http://armchairgm.wikia.com/Nick_Adenhart.

[BHSportsguy]

I agree with Humma, while I certainly understand the outrage, this is probably not the forum to discuss the criminal justice system.

Instead, I just think we should all remember that last night was probably the best night of Nick Adenhart's life and be happy that he had that moment where his dream came true if only for a moment.

[DL]

What a senseless tragedy. I feel horrible for the Angels right now. I'd rather the Dodgers lose 162 games then see something like this happen.

[Sean Chandra]

VA Blueblood--

I don't think you'd need to go that far. 10 years on a first dui is too harsh. I believe state prison time (sentences above 1 year) should be reserved for violent and/or habitual offenders and white collar criminals/con artists. unfortunately the voters of this state rejected expanding treatment in lieu of jail for drug addicts.

I really think a 30 day mandatory jail term, mandatory AA, and a real, 1 year license suspension (meaning the offender can't get a restricted license to drive to work) would be a sufficient deterrent on a first dui.

now if someone continues to drive drunk, state prison time is appropriate.

speaking of switching priorities, maybe this tragedy will end up sparking action by MLB on DUIs. it boggles my mind that there are huge suspensions for steroids but not a word about DUIs.

humma kavula, respectfully, I don't think this is rule 5 territory given today's unfortunate connection of dui issues with baseball.

[Artful Dodger]

Sad, sad news. My condolences to all affected.

On another note, I have two tickets for Opening Day on the 13th that I bought on ebay that I now cannot use. The seats are located in Reserve 10, Row F, Seats 7 & 8. I'm not looking to profit from this... I'm even willing to sell them for less than what I paid! If you're interested, please e-mail me: ablopez at gmail.

Go Dodgers!

[DaDoughboy]

Well said BH..well said..

[MollyKnight]

It feels like a horrible movie. Young kid realizes his dream of playing in the bigs and pitches the best game of his life, only to have it all taken away hours later. I know it wasn't his first big league game, but still.

Can you guys post on DT when the Angels hold their press conference? Maybe ESPN will show it.

[VA Blueblood]

Humma, yeah, I concur about the Rule 5 stuff, it's just at the moment this feels like the best outlet for anger over the situation.

anyhow, yes, there is no better cure for back pain than several hours of baseball. Specifically:

1) Franklin Gutierrez making a sensational catch in Minnesota that was at first rule a trap, then correctly overturned.

2) Oliver Perez being Oliver Perez. Lights out for two innings, imploding in the 3rd--primarily via a three-run jack by Joey Votto. I like watching Votto hit. And I like rooting against the Mets.

3) Orioles going for the sweep of the Yanks. Jeter just struck out to lead off. Yay.

I had found some Chowder and Marching Society history, and was all set to post it, when I found out about Adenhart. I think I'll save that lighthearted business for later.

[BHSportsguy]

Molly, ESPN News has been covering this story as well as MLB Network, I am sure both will break in when the press conference starts.

[VA Blueblood]

Sean and BH--yeah, you guys are probably right. I just don't understand why anyone makes the choice to drive drunk, and think that criminal stupidity should be dealt with harshly.

Well, here's hoping that MLB seizes the moment to widely address the issue of people driving home from ballgames drunk.

[Craig88USC]

Sorry my link was bad - It was a nice baseball card picture of Nick...anyway this is so touching by Tori }}} Angels outfielder Torii Hunter was sleeping when his wife called him, asking whether the news was true. Hunter immediately called the Angels' team trainer, who confirmed that Adenhart had been killed.

"I'm in shock right now," Hunter said. "He just pitched last night. It doesn't seem like this is happening.

"This is real life. This isn't about baseball. This is his whole life, he had his whole life ahead of him. He's only 22, he's still a kid. He was a great kid, he was funny, he was very popular in the clubhouse and off the field. People loved him."

sweet sentiments from Tori .

[MollyKnight]

^Well, I think part of the problem is that when people are intoxicated their judgement is impaired. But I agree with everyone who says we're treading on Rule 5 Territory.

Of course we're all angry right now, but arguing over DUI punishment isn't going to help.

[Craig88USC]

The Angel fans & Dodger fans are united today I'm sure... in memory of a young baseball star ------ The Angels, in a statement, said the female driver and another male passenger were dead in the Mitsubishi when police and firefighters arrived. The team said no other members of the organization were involved in the crash.

"The Angels family has suffered a tremendous loss today. We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nick's family, friends, loved ones and fans," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said in the statement.

[Branch Rickey]

The best part of this place is when baseball intersects with life or even with death. For that matter, the best part of baseball is where it intersects with real life. The reason many of us feel terrible about this death as opposed to the deaths that happen every day on the roads is that we have a connection to Nick Adenhart. He loved what we love. He was a part of the thing we don't just know about, we *care* about. The connection we feel comes through this game and it is the best part of this game. I'm sad and reflective at his loss. I'm thankful that we have a game and a place to meet and creates connections to each other.

[BHSportsguy]

Per MLB Network - Angels have announced that have postponed tonight's game, no make-up date has been announced.

[BHSportsguy]

That was well said Branch, well said indeed.

[Gilberto Reyes]

Jon - I couldn't agree with you more about LaRussa and the blind support people gave him after his senseless decision to drive a car while intoxicated.

It also bothers me that it takes a horrible death like Nick Adenhart's to open people's eyes to the dangers of drunk driving. Don't wait until someone you know gets killed before denouncing the terrible choice to get behind the wheel under the influence. Educate your family and friends and you can help save someone's life.

[Humma Kavula]

Branch -- right on, and... well, maybe you didn't intend this, but it's maybe the best argument that the Angels should play tonight.

[Craig88USC]

Branch Rickey could not have said it any better. I think that's why we have to hug our children every day...

[Jon Weisman]

Game thread is open up top.

[Craig88USC]

Espn...just said the 4th young life is in critcal care at UCI. Prayers.

[Humma Kavula]

The thing is, nobody chooses to drive drunk. People have one drink (or two, or four) and think they can handle themselves and their cars, and they cannot.

I'd be lying if I said I've never had a beer, waited a bit, and then got into my car. Have I waited long enough? Well, I've never had a problem, but whenever anyone drinks, that person's judgement is impaired. Total abstainance is the only way to ensure that you're making a good choice. (I'll also note that whenever I have two beers or more, I know that I'm not driving anywhere until the next day, but I'm neurotic.)

My point is that the driver isn't evil. He made an extremely poor choice with horrible consequences. I am trying to have enough sympathy for both the victims of the crash and the driver, who, I'd imagine, is wracked with guilt over a bad choice for which he will pay, one way or another, for the rest of his life.

[fanerman]

Gosh I hope he(she?) makes it.

[Ken Arneson]

The driver apparently had a prior DUI and a suspended license, and then went out and did this. He deserves absolutely no sympathy at all.

[Jon Weisman]

First, I'll admit that I have driven under the influence in my life. That being said, I believe many, many people have chosen to drive drunk. They weigh their own needs against the risk and make a choice. It might be an impaired choice, but it's still a choice.

[Craig88USC]

...the drunk driver is also only 22. Also a ruined life with a family, so sad.

[berkowit28]

The driver also ran away from the scene of the accident and had to be apprehended by police. That goes beyond "impaired judgment". Everyone (decent) knows you don't do that under any circumstances. The fact that he had a prior DUI and suspended license surely means he was afraid for the consequences to himself and not, at least for the moment, concerned about his victims. That doesn't make him evil. But it puts him in a different category from people who make a bad judgment, drive after a couple drinks, and end up in an accident but don't run away.

[berkowit28]

Here's the lineup per Josh Rawitch. DeWitt replacing Furcal both batting and fielding, it seems. I don't think anyone expected that?

DeWitt, SS

Hudson, 2B

Manny, LF

Ethier, RF

Martin, C

Loney, 1B

Kemp, CF

Blake, 3B

Kershaw, P