Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in accident

Latest story: Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in car crash

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was among the three people 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 hours after the 22-year-old appeared in Wednesday night's Angels game.

He died in the accident that 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 that the driver of a red minivan ran a red light at the intersection, hitting a silver Mitsubishi carrying four people. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, authorities said. Two others were taken to a nearby hospital, where a third person was later pronounced dead, Brower said.

The driver of the minivan fled on foot shortly after the accident but was taken into custody on suspicion of hit and run when police found him a mile away, Brower said. Further charges are pending as the investigation continues, he said.  A passenger in the minivan was taken to Western Medical Center, authorities said. The condition of that person was unknown.

A third vehicle also was involved, but there were no reports of any injuries.

Authorities said the intersection would be closed at least until noon as the investigation continued.

-- Mike DiGiovanna and Ruben Vives

Photos by Mark Boster and Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[JJ Jones]

What a tragic story. Thoughts and prayers from Florida to his family and friends.

[Bk]

Nick, you were such a burst of excitement during your young career here in Anaheim. You will never be forgotten...you will always be an Angel now. R.I.P., we will miss you!

[hottmma]

Lock him up and throw away the key!!!

[mathew]

Tragic. Two deaths in the Angels family (one fan murdered, now a player killed) in one week. RIP Nick and Brian.

[jpg]

Terrible, tragic; thoughts and prayers with family

[BakoCAcameraGuy]

That is horrible! I feel for the Adenheart family and the Angels organization, and all those close to this young man.

[francis]

that's just so sad...

[Nancy]

Such a tragedy. A young man, with such potential has been taken away so soon. This comes on the heels of the beautiful, young USC student who was also killed by a hit-and-run driver. These criminals who flee the scene of the crime obviously have something to hide. Given that these tragic events occurred in southern CA, the odds are that these people fleeing the scene are in this country illegally. The L.A. Business Journal (4/6/09) published an article citing that in the 8 years from April 2000 to July 2008, L.A.'s population increase can be attributed to foreign immigrants and the natural growth that occurs when there are more births than deaths. During that same period, American-born residents, a net of more than 1 million moved out of L.A. County. Also a very real, on-going tragedy.

[Jessica]

What a tragedy! A careless act takes the life of 3 young people... I am heartbroken... My heart goes out to the Angels family!!!

[Sam Johnson]

What a tragedy.....hope the criminal is caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[Claire]

So tragic. We were at the game last night and were excited to see such promise from this rookie. This is so sad for his family and the family of the others who passed...

[Tim]

May he rest in peace.

[degraff]

Horrible. There is really no other way to express my feelings over this incident.

[Charles Fogelman]

@Nancy:

Not ok.

[Michelle]

I absolutely can't believe it. It's so terrible how one minute he can pitch six shut-out innings and the next be gone.

RIP; you'll always be fondly remembered.

[JG]

This comment is in response to Nancy above: I agree this is a tragedy and I'm sadden by it but to assume with out knowing any facts that the person who fled the scene is in this country illegally is absolutely ignorant on your part.

[elizabeth]

Nancy -

"Foreign immigrants" does not mean "illegal." Thousands of individuals immigrate into the U.S. (and Los Angeles) every year. America allows this. They are called permanent or legal residents.

Don't turn this into a blame game by assuming the driver of the van was undocumented. The driver who killed the USC student was not.

People flee because they don't want to be caught after they have KILLED someone - not because of their status.

If you're so worried about overpopulation, advocate for birth control.

[angel_fan_02]

This is why we need a border wall 20 feet tall.

[JJ]

Sad ... and I can't believe a blogger (Nancy) would use this tragedy to push their personal xenophobic agenda

[AL]

Nancy at 9:03am, I suppose it should be no surprise that hard-right anti-immigration types should try to politicize a tragedy, but please, show some decency.

What these drivers have to hide is that they murdered people.

[Paul]

RE: Nancy, nice spot for some crap statistics. Your speculation that people flee the accident because they are illegal is laughable. Instead of preaching xenophobic ideas, a simple RIP and some prayers to all those involved would have sufficed.

[Matt]

Just sad. Its amazing what can happen in twelve hours. My thoughts and prayers go out to Adenhart's family and the Angels Organization as well as MLB.

[Kyle]

Do not use the death of these young people to try to further your own small-minded political views Nancy. You are disgusting.

[Smith]

This is really sad, I lost my brother a month ago in a motorcycle accident. I know what the family is going through, my thoughts and prayers are with the family.

[Jon]

This is just terrible news. Three lives lost in an instant, and the impact on their families and friends is incalculable.