Angels SP Nick Adenhart killed by hit and run

[DeToxRox]

Angels Starting Pitcher Killed After Ball Game - TMZ.com (http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/09/angels-starting-pitcher-killed-after-ball-game/)

TMZ has learned Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a felony hit-and-run car accident in Fullerton, California early this morning -- hours after he pitched in a game last night.

Nick Adenhart
Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart was riding in to hit a light pole. Three people were killed in the crash, including Nick.

Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene -- but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is currently being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

We're told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization.

Nick was 22 years old.

FYI -- 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."

[PackerFanatic]

Woah...

Can't find anything else on it, that is sad and crazy if true.

[DeToxRox]

Angels forums seem to confirm it's true, but obviously I am leery of anything TMZ breaks.

[PackerFanatic]

Breaking news, real-time scores and daily analysis from Sports Illustrated – SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/?cnn=yes)

Banner on top says LA Times has it too...wow.

[boberot]

so, so tragic.

[Ramzavail]

holy crap, that awful. I just picked him up on Monday in fantasy.

[Noop]

Sad.

[GrantDawg]

The LA Times had already reported about the accident, but didn't know Adhenhart was involved till just a little while ago. Tragic.

[Butter]

holy crap, that awful. I just picked him up on Monday in fantasy.

Nice.

[Ksyrup]

This is all CNN will report right now:


Arrest made in crash that killed 'high-profile person'

<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!--endclickprintinclude--><!--startclickprintinclude-->LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- One person was arrested Thursday after they allegedly fled the scene of a crash that killed three people, including one who police are calling a "high-profile person," according to CNN affiliate KTLA.


The person's identity was not immediately available.

Police said a minivan barreled down a street in Fullerton (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Fullerton), California, just south of Los Angeles, and slammed into a silver Mitsubishi about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, the affiliate reported. The silver car then struck a third vehicle before striking a power pole, KTLA said.

Footage from the scene showed the minivan with a smashed front end and the Mitsubishi, which was heavily damaged. Debris littered the intersection where the crash took place, and it was cordoned off with yellow police tape.

[Ramzavail]

I guess that came out wrong. :/

[Ksyrup]

ESPN is now reporting it as a "source."

[bhlloy]

Damn. Such a promising young pitcher gone. RIP.

[Lathum]

wow, tragic

[King of New York]

Sounds like he was killed by a drunk driver who fled the scene and was later caught.

Effing drunk drivers.

[Chief Rum]

I'm just in shock right now. :(

This kid had his whole life in front of him, so much talent. His best pitching performance ever last night. Huge upside. This is just awful, for his family, for the families of his friends, for the Angels, for the Angels' fans. I don't really know what to say.

I am pretty certain the intersection in question is Lemon & Orangethorpe, based on a separate traffic report I heard this morning. It's a pretty crummy intersection with a weird flashing yellow light handling the north-south left-turning traffic. I drive through it, on average, once a week. I certainly hope that had nothing to do with this, although it sounds like this is about a drunk driver (presumeably) and running a red light.

I just don't know what to say right now.

[Schmidty]

Sounds like he was killed by a drunk driver who fled the scene and was later caught.

Effing drunk drivers.

Be careful. There are some douche bags that have defended drunk driving in other threads, but I won't name them.

[Fidatelo]

Sounds like he was killed by a drunk driver who fled the scene and was later caught.

Effing drunk drivers.

Drinking and driving isn't really a big deal, I'm sure the driver just made a bad decision.

[JPhillips]

I'll respond in the other thread as this really isn't the place.

Adnehart's death is a tragedy, no question. His family, teammates and friends will all suffer needlessly. If it turns out this was caused by a drunk driver his punishment will be well deserved.

[kingfc22]

Guy already had a previous DUI and was driving with a suspended license.

Send this fucker away.

[DanGarion]

I'm just in shock right now. :(

This kid had his whole life in front of him, so much talent. His best pitching performance ever last night. Huge upside. This is just awful, for his family, for the families of his friends, for the Angels, for the Angels' fans. I don't really know what to say.

I am pretty certain the intersection in question is Lemon & Orangethorpe, based on a separate traffic report I heard this morning. It's a pretty crummy intersection with a weird flashing yellow light handling the north-south left-turning traffic. I drive through it, on average, once a week. I certainly hope that had nothing to do with this, although it sounds like this is about a drunk driver (presumeably) and running a red light.

I just don't know what to say right now.
Yes the city of Anaheim uses an unusual traffic light configuration there instead of the traditional way it's done in the rest of the county.

[Karlifornia]

Damn, that sucks.

[DanGarion]

Drinking and driving isn't really a big deal, I'm sure the driver just made a bad decision.
:popcorn:

Such as driving while being intoxicated...:(

[Fidatelo]

:popcorn:

Such as driving while being intoxicated...:(

Ya, that would be the one.

[RainMaker]

That's horrible. Driver had a suspended license for a prior DUI. Just a dreg of society who took out 3 people who had something going for themselves in life.

[Swaggs]

Sad news. :(

[weegeebored]

Drinking and driving isn't really a big deal, I'm sure the driver just made a bad decision.Most people can't drive when they are stone-cold sober. So unless your response was tongue-in-cheek it begs the question -- what the eff are you smoking?

[DaddyTorgo]

wtf - wow

[DaddyTorgo]

That's horrible. Driver had a suspended license for a prior DUI. Just a dreg of society who took out 3 people who had something going for themselves in life.

this is why we should have a zero-tolerance death penalty for drunk driving (only partly tongue-in-cheek)

[JPhillips]

Most people can't drive when they are stone-cold sober. So unless your response was tongue-in-cheek it begs the question -- what the eff are you smoking?

He's not serious. He's taking a shot at me by misrepresenting something I said in another thread.

[EagleFan]

Who were the other two people that were killed? As tragic as this is it's equally tragic for their families but everywhere this has been talked about you would never know that others were killed (unless I am missing that somewhere).

This isn't meant of a criticism here; it is for the news reports which I have seen.

[Karlifornia]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb;_ylt=AnMVl4WyzQfDPQ83HuD56m45nYcB

check out the recent injuries and transactions...spooky...

[stevew]

DUI murder while you're driving on a suspended license for a previous DUI should get you 25 to life. Shitty situation.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Who were the other two people that were killed? As tragic as this is it's equally tragic for their families but everywhere this has been talked about you would never know that others were killed (unless I am missing that somewhere).

This isn't meant of a criticism here; it is for the news reports which I have seen.

The driver was a 20 y/o girl that he knew from CS-Fullerton, the other hadn't been identified for most of the day beyond a 25 y/o male, now listed as being from Manhattan Beach. Both of them died at the scene, while Adenhart died in surgery.

The fourth passenger, critical but now said expected to survive, was a 24 y/o named Jon Wilhite who played baseball for four seasons at Fullerton.

[Lathum]

from the ESPN article

Adenhart's father, Jim, a retired Secret Service agent, walked onto the field in the empty stadium Thursday and spent several moments alone on the pitcher's mound. Wearing a red sweatshirt, the Angels' color, he briefly covered his eyes with one hand.


so sad. One second he is watching his son pitch the next he is saying goodbye. Puts things into perspective.

[Chief Rum]

I drove by the stadium after work tonight, and then out to the crash site. Pretty emotional all around. The stadium had some cars in close, but I didn't try to head in. I thought they might show some sort of tribute on the Big A screen by the freeway, but it was quiet.

The crash site was eery, as these things tend to be, but also touching. The two corners of the intersection featured in the crash are littered with candles, flowers, Angels memorabilia, messages to all three people who passed away. There was probably 100-120 people gathered around, mostly just standing a vigil on both spots. TV vans were there, including a couple on screen talents I vaguely recognized. I probably could have worked my way into one of those fan's perspectives shots they do for stories like this, but not surprisingly, I wasn't interested in that.

I would have pictures but I don't have a flash on my camera phone. Anyway, it was a pretty emotional evening all around. The Angels and their fans have always been a sorta tight knit group, usually overshadowed by the Dodgers regionally, and by the East Coast in general nationally. So it's always been a kinda us and against the world mentality. Lots of raw emotion right now among the people I have talked to and listened to.

No anger yet among the masses. But it will come. And I fear when it does.

[Chief Rum]

I thought this blog post from the Angels beat writer at angelsbaseball.com was touching and well done. I figured I would share...

Lyle Spencer, Angel beat writer for MLB, has a wonderful and touching story on his blog, "Remembering Nick."

Access his blog from the main Angels page.

Remembering Nick

Nick Adenhart grinned in that shy, off-hand manner of his and told me he liked my sweater. I thanked him and told him I'd try to find one just like it for him. He might have thought I was kidding, but I was serious. It was going right to the top of my to-do list.

I wanted to go over to his locker after the group interview on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium for a few private minutes with him, to let him know how happy I was for him. I'd developed a lot of affection for him these past few years, and it had been painful to watch him struggle when he came up last May, searching for the right stuff and not finding it. He wasn't quite ready, maybe, but he had complete confidence that he would figure it out. I could see that. I wasn't worried about Nick. He had courage and confidence to go with the tools. He was going places. It was just a matter of time.

Now, in his fourth Major League start, he'd shut out the A's for six innings, using not just his physical gifts but the knowledge and intelligence he'd acquired over a winter of intently studying his craft. But I had other interviews to do and a story to go write, so I did what I do. I'd have a nice sit-down with Nick next chance I got.

A few hours later, having pitched a game that I was convinced was going to be his springboard to a long, successful career and certain stardom, he was struck down in one of those senseless accidents. Nick Adenhart, who I'd grown to care so much about, was gone.

I've been doing this, writing professionally about athletes and the games they play, for four decades. But I am not capable enough to express my grief over the news of Nick's death. It is too deep, too profound. He was not just another talented young ballplayer with a big arm and a big future. He was a wonderful young man, one I'd have been proud to call a son. Or a son in law.

I have two daughters, no sons. In my travels as a sportswriter across the map over the years I have forged bonds with athletes from different angles and perspectives. There was a time, when I was young and full of life, that I socialized with some guys generous enough and adventurous enough to welcome me into their worlds. We had some good times.

As I got older, the relationship with young athletes evolved into something more paternal. With some athletes, such as Nick, I began to feel protective, as I would a son. There were times when they would confide in me and if they asked, I would offer advice, counsel. It had nothing to do with my work, really. It was about making connections with people I cared about. Nick certainly was one of these people, along with at least a dozen other young Angels.

Nick and I would have brief talks, occasionally a long one. This spring, stretching out at a table outside the clubhouse at Tempe Diablo Stadium, he opened up about a variety of subjects. There was a shy quality about him I always found endearing, and I felt honored that he would confide in me.

The story I ended up writing was about how he'd spent the winter studying the masters on video, such legends as Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux. Nick was completely absorbed in becoming as good as he could be. He dreamed about being a big-league pitcher since he was 8 or 9 years old, and here he was, on the threshold.

It meant everything to him. I don't mind admitting I was pulling hard for him.

Writing through tears is never easy. I weep for his family, for friends and teammates past and present, for anyone who had the good fortune to get to know Nick Adenhart.

He was a prince of a young man. I'm feeling empty and lost today knowing I won't be having any more talks with Nick, and that I won't go searching for another sweater like the blue/green one he took a fancy to on the night he showed that he had the right stuff to be a great Major League pitcher for many years to come.

[Karlifornia]

That is heartbreaking.

[Kodos]

Sad story. Drunk drivers should be shot.

[bhlloy]

This is a very good article IMO

Media Pillories Steroids During Happy Hour for DUI*Athletes - Halos Heaven (http://www.halosheaven.com/2009/4/10/829426/media-pillories-steroids-during)

Pretty much sums up my feelings on how DUI is almost an "acceptable" part of American life. Hopefully the anger that comes out of this will actually lead to some good being done and some people will think twice about getting behind the wheel in the days and weeks to come.

[Chief Rum]

Gallo, the alleged drunk driver who killed Nick and his friends, had a hearing today, not sure if it was the arraignment or procedural.

Not surprisingly, his lawyer is seeking a change of venue. With respect to jurisprudence, that's probably for the best, as he can't get a fair trial in Orange County.

Of course, I am not sure he can go anywhere in CA and get a fair trial, but I don't know how that's judged.

What stood out to me is that the defendant pretty much spent the whole hearing head down and in tears, and his lawyer described him as "devastated and distraught" over this.

Now, don't get me wrong, this guy deserves everything he gets. But it just reminded me that he himself is just 22, and it wasn't four lives ruined, but five. It's really just a such a sad story.

Drunk driving, people, we have to get more serious about it.

[RainMaker]

Looks like it will be 50 years to life for Gallo. About as good as you could expect for punishment.

Defendant in Nick Adenhart death guilty of murder - ESPN Los Angeles (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=5622226)

[Sun Tzu]

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.

[molson]

Looks like it will be 50 years to life for Gallo. About as good as you could expect for punishment.

Defendant in Nick Adenhart death guilty of murder - ESPN Los Angeles (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=5622226)

Kind of makes Braylon Edwards' 1 quarter suspension for a 2nd DUI a bit on the light side. The only difference between Gallo and Edwards is luck.

[molson]

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.

I wonder what charge the 50-life sentence is associated with. That's definitely not standard, that sounds like some kind of murder charge, as opposed to aggravated DUI.

Edit: From the article...Second-degree murder is certainly no slam dunk in a case like this, good job by the prosecutors:

Prosecutors said they charged the case as a second-degree murder instead of the lesser charge of manslaughter because Gallo had a previous DUI conviction, had specific knowledge of the dangers of drinking and driving from his own experience and had signed a court form from the earlier case saying he understood he could be charged with murder if he drove drunk again and killed someone.

To win a murder conviction, prosecutors had to show Gallo acted with implied malice: intentionally drove drunk; acted with a conscious disregard for human life; and knew from his personal experience that he could kill someone.

[RainMaker]

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.
I think that part of California just has really strict laws regarding DUI. Apparently they can try you for murder on a 2nd one and make 1st time offenders sign something that informs them of that in advance. The article says it's the 11th person convicted of DUI murder in the county. Then again, I think the DA can prosecute anyone they want for murder and it's up to a jury to determine if it meets that criteria as opposed to manslaughter.

I'm all for it. These people have shown that they are not capable of being safe members of society.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.

This is quite rare. A lot of it has to do with the fact that he's a repeat DUI offender. There appear to be other extenuating circumstances, such as the media hype, the victim, the fact that there were 2 other deaths and one other victim who was critically injured, and that he was 3 times over the legal limit.

Apparently, as a condition of his first DUI arrest, he had to sign a statement acknowldeging that he understood that drving while intoxicated could mean he could kill people. That is a key element to a 2nd degree murder charge.

[Sun Tzu]

rgr that...I don't remember hearing that there were 2 other deaths. Was one of them his step-brother?

[RainMaker]

Definition of 2nd degree murder seems to fit:

Second-degree murder is ordinarily defined as 1) an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable "heat of passion" or 2) a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life. Second-degree murder may best be viewed as the middle ground between first-degree murder (http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/a-z/murder_first_degree.html) and voluntary manslaughter (http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/a-z/manslaughter_voluntary.html).

[johnnyshaka]

Kind of makes Braylon Edwards' 1 quarter suspension for a 2nd DUI a bit on the light side. The only difference between Gallo and Edwards is luck.

No kidding. And to think the NFL didn't even blink twice at this as the "suspension" came from the team.

[Chief Rum]

I'm sure these things happen all the time. Is this the standard sentence, or is he being made an example due to the mass media surrounding the death of Adenhart?

Note: I'm 100% for locking up DUI murderers, especially repeat offenders.

While I am sure prosecution drew a hard line in the sand on this case, given the pub it generates against drunk driving, I don't think 50 years is out of question considering Gallo was convicted of three separate charges of second degree murder, among other charges.

[Chief Rum]

rgr that...I don't remember hearing that there were 2 other deaths. Was one of them his step-brother?

Nope, his step brother and one other passenger were injured but only mild injuries, IIRC. The four primary victims were all in the other car.

[bhlloy]

The verdict really is beyond my wildest expectations, I thought the lawyers would get him off on a technicality or a sympathetic jury so for him to be convicted on all counts is pretty awesome.

Molson - I wish Braylon Edwards had been treated much more harshly by the NFL but this was a guy who had a long history of drink driving (according to the family even) and had even got to the point where he had to sign the document that said if he did it again and killed somebody he could be charged with murder. Pretty black and white in my book.

That being said, I'm strongly in favor with a 4 game suspension for any DUI and a season for a second offense in any professional league. It's made even more disgusting because these guys have millions of dollars and a league program that means they should never have to drive. It's basically saying that other people's lives and safety and the law of the land isn't worth them being inconvenienced to make a 5 minute phonecall.

[RainMaker]

Piece of trash is begging for leniency now.

Man convicted in death of Nick Adenhart seeking leniency - ESPN Los Angeles (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=5946234)

[molson]

Whatever the sentences are, I hope they're consecutive per victim. I really hate when a crime with multiple victims is punished with concurrent sentences. You ruin or end more than one life, you should serve more than one sentence. It's disrespectful to do otherwise, IMO.

I also like to see over-the-top nonsense from defense attorneys at the trial and sentencing stage - that saves us from the appellate isue that your attorney didn't do enough.

[Chief Rum]

Whatever the sentences are, I hope they're consecutive per victim. I really hate when a crime with multiple victims is punished with concurrent sentences. You ruin or end more than one life, you should serve more than one sentence. It's disrespectful to do otherwise, IMO.

I also like to see over-the-top nonsense from defense attorneys at the trial and sentencing stage - that saves us from the appellate isue that your attorney didn't do enough.

Yeah, the defense attroney is trying to get all three of the second degree murder sentences run concurrent (15 years to life). There's also an additional 6-7 years for the 4th victim (the survivor), which the attorney also wants rolled into the same sentence.

I, too, would not like to see these run concurrent. This guy was so criminally negligent as to his own actions, that he's as guilty of murder as if he were a serial killer, IMO.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

[molson]

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

And I'm not positive, but in California, I'm pretty sure "51 years" does not mean "51 years". It'd be a shame if he was out in 15.

3 consecutive terms of 51 to life would solve that problem, but I doubt that's what happened.

[Chief Rum]

AP says 51 to life, so consecutive.

Yeah, that about matches the separate sentences, total years; 15 to life, 15 to life, 15 to life, 6 yrs & 8 mts==51 yrs & 8 mts to life.

I can't speak to the likelihood he'll serve all that. I don't know what CA's parole system is like.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

How is that possible? 15+15+15+6 = 51. How is that not consecutive?

[molson]

How is that possible? 15+15+15+6 = 51. How is that not consecutive?

You're right, I hadn't followed the case lately and was assuming harsher punishments than 15 per.

[Chief Rum]

You're right, I hadn't followed the case lately and was assuming harsher punishments than 15 per.

The convictions were second degree murder. I think first degree murder in CA is 25 to life, so I guess 15 to life is within the realm of a step down from first. But I agree with you, seems too light for someone dying by the choice of another.

[RainMaker]

Sounds like one big fat sentence with everything running concurrently. (But the first news reports are often inaccurate because they don't get the terminology right).

And I'm not positive, but in California, I'm pretty sure "51 years" does not mean "51 years". It'd be a shame if he was out in 15.

3 consecutive terms of 51 to life would solve that problem, but I doubt that's what happened.
I'm pretty sure that in California, there is no parole on 2nd degree murder. So he is not eligible for parole until he serves 45 years (for the 3 murders at 15 per).