ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others were killed by a suspected drunk driver Thursday, a shocking end to the life of a rookie who had overcome major elbow surgery to realize his big-league dreams.
The accident in neighboring Fullerton occurred hours after the 22-year-old pitcher made his season debut with his father in the stands, throwing six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics.
The Angels' game with Oakland was postponed Thursday night.
"It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten," manager Mike Scioscia.
Adenhart's father, Jim, walked onto the field in the empty stadium Thursday and spent several moments on the pitcher's mound.
Jim Adenhart also spoke during a closed-door meeting of players and team officials.
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"He just wanted to say thank you for raising his kid in minor- league ball on up through the system," outfielder Torii Hunter said.
Nick Adenhart was a passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Eclipse that was broadsided in an intersection about 12:30 a.m. by a minivan that apparently ran a red light, police said.
The minivan driver fled the crash on foot but was captured about 30 minutes later. Police identified him as Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside and said he had a suspended license because of a previous drunken driving conviction.
Preliminary results indicated Gallo's blood-alcohol level was "substantially over the legal limit" of .08 percent, police Lt. Kevin Hamilton said.
Gallo was booked on three counts of murder, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and felony driving under the influence of alcohol, Hamilton said. Gallo was being held without bail.
Adenhart died in surgery at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center. Henry Nigel Pearson of Manhattan Beach, a 25-year-old passenger in the car, and the driver, 20-year-old Courtney Frances Stewart of Diamond Bar, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Another passenger, 24-year-old Jon Wilhite of Manhattan Beach, was in critical condition at UC-Irvine Medical Center, although he was expected to survive, a hospital spokesman said.
