The tragic news from Fullerton about a three-fatality automobile accident became even more
shocking after the disclosure that one of the victims was L.A. Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who had pitched in an opening-week game hours before the crash. Police say a minivan ran a red light at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street, smashing into the coupe carrying Adenhart, 22, and three other passengers. Police say the minivan driver,
Andrew Thomas Gallo, also 22, took to his heels after the collision but was later apprehended. City News Service reports that Gallo is suspected of having been under the influence during the accident. The Angels organization has announced that tonight's game will be canceled.

Photo: Paul Rodriguez/OC Register

According to the L.A. Times, which features a list of tragedies

to have struck the Angels, Adenhart had shown early promise in high

school until an elbow injury required reconstructive surgery. Still,

the Angels had shown enough confidence in their rookie to give him a

$710,000 signing bonus. Wednesday night he threw six shutout innings in

a team loss to the Oakland A's. The crash that claimed Adenhart's life

is only the latest in a series of spectacular traffic tragedies to

plague Southern California roads over the past month.

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