Nicholas James Adenhart
1986-2009
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, has died of injuries, along with two other people in a Fullerton, California crash that occurred early Thursday morning. The Silver Spring, Maryland native underwent surgery at UC Irvine Medical Center and died mid-to-late morning, according to spokesman John Murray.
The accident occurred at 12:23 a.m. in Fullerton, south of L.A. According to police Lt. Craig Brower, a red minivan ran a red light and struck two vehicles at an intersection. The Riverside minivan driver, Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, fled the scene on foot and was arrested a mile away. He will face charges of manslaughter, felony DUI and hit-and-run.
Dead at the scene were the female driver of the Mitsubishi, 20 year old Courtney Frances Stewart, and 25 year old law student Henry Nigel Pearson. Jon Wilhite, 24, of Manhatten Beach and a friend of Pearson, remains in critical condition at IMC. According to Stewart’s mother, her daughter and Adenhart had been friends since last season and had been dancing at a club prior to the accident.
Earlier in the evening on Wednesday, Adenhart pitched against the Oakland A’s in Anaheim, with his dad in the stands. It was his fourth major league start and he managed to pitch a scoreless six innings, allowing seven hits, three walks and five strikeouts, reportedly the best game of his short-lived career.
The Angels’ Thursday night game with the Oakland A’s has been postponed at the direction of Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who said, “Nick was just 22 years of age, with a wonderful life and career ahead of him. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my sincere sympathy to the families and friends of all three victims and to the entiere Angels’ organization. I send my deepest condolences to Nick’s parents, Jim and Janet. The hearts of everyone in baseball are with them at this most difficult time.”
Adenhart, humble, soft spoken and never boastful, was drafted by the Angels in 2004 and was considered the best prospect in the Angels organization going into 2009. He made his major league debut as the starting pitcher on May 1, 2008.
Photo and video below shows crash scene footage.