Nick Adenhart (1986-2009)
April 9, 2009 9:20 AM Subscribe
Four hours after his start against Oakland, his first time beginning the year with a major league team, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a hit and run by a van speeding through a red light.
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posted by ElmerFishpaw at 9:39 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 9:39 AM on April 9, 2009
I watched the game last night, he got out of a couple jams and pitched well, showed good control, nice ball movement. Seemed like he was going to be a good addition to the Angels' rotation. Just... man. That really sucks.
posted by incessant at 9:39 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by incessant at 9:39 AM on April 9, 2009
RIP.
See also Shawn Mackay, an Australian international rugby player who was hit and run by a police car and died this week in Durban, South Africa.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:46 AM on April 9, 2009
See also Shawn Mackay, an Australian international rugby player who was hit and run by a police car and died this week in Durban, South Africa.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:46 AM on April 9, 2009
What a way to hearald the arrival of spring. :-(
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:55 AM on April 9, 2009
*herald*. Argh.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:57 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:57 AM on April 9, 2009
Pitching 6 scoreless innings of major-league ball on your last day on earth ain't a bad way to go at least.
posted by mrt at 9:58 AM on April 9, 2009 [21 favorites]
posted by mrt at 9:58 AM on April 9, 2009 [21 favorites]
He will be a good addition to the Angels' rotation.
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posted by Sailormom at 10:11 AM on April 9, 2009 [22 favorites]
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posted by Sailormom at 10:11 AM on April 9, 2009 [22 favorites]
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posted by killy willy at 10:37 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by killy willy at 10:37 AM on April 9, 2009
See also Shawn Mackay, an Australian international rugby player who was hit and run by a police car and died this week in Durban, South Africa.
Not exactly. Mackay was hit by a car from a private armed-response security company and died in hospital (he was very critically injured but showing signs of recovery) after contracting a blood infection, apparently during or after surgery. The police investigation into this multi-part tragedy is mostly characterized by foot-dragging and inaction.
Sad story about Adenhart.
posted by grounded at 10:44 AM on April 9, 2009
Not exactly. Mackay was hit by a car from a private armed-response security company and died in hospital (he was very critically injured but showing signs of recovery) after contracting a blood infection, apparently during or after surgery. The police investigation into this multi-part tragedy is mostly characterized by foot-dragging and inaction.
Sad story about Adenhart.
posted by grounded at 10:44 AM on April 9, 2009
This is the second tradgedy already this season in LAA. Rooting for a baseball team today feels kind of hollow. Take care of yourselves, Angels fans. This is just so sad. My deepest sympathies.
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posted by robot at 10:45 AM on April 9, 2009
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posted by robot at 10:45 AM on April 9, 2009
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posted by IvoShandor at 10:58 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by IvoShandor at 10:58 AM on April 9, 2009
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posted by languagehat at 11:04 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by languagehat at 11:04 AM on April 9, 2009
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posted by roll truck roll at 11:10 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by roll truck roll at 11:10 AM on April 9, 2009
K
posted by schyler523 at 11:22 AM on April 9, 2009
posted by schyler523 at 11:22 AM on April 9, 2009
The LA Times updated to note that the driver of the minivan was drunk, driving on a suspended license, and had a prior DUI.
posted by gladly at 11:51 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by gladly at 11:51 AM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Lame attempt at humor aside, stories like this are a good reminder of the number of lives that are lost to stupid, preventable accidents. Also, how important it is for us to not only make vehicles safer and laws stricter, but to make driver's licenses in the United States more of a privilege than a right, and to significantly increase the amount of training that drivers must take before they hit the streets.
After all, we don't run around hunting animals for food or traversing the country in covered wagons with little but our wits about us; driving a car (or riding in one) is likely the most dangerous thing most of us will do in our lifetimes. Seems like we should all take it more seriously, even though of us who already think we do.
posted by davejay at 12:01 PM on April 9, 2009 [2 favorites]
After all, we don't run around hunting animals for food or traversing the country in covered wagons with little but our wits about us; driving a car (or riding in one) is likely the most dangerous thing most of us will do in our lifetimes. Seems like we should all take it more seriously, even though of us who already think we do.
posted by davejay at 12:01 PM on April 9, 2009 [2 favorites]
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posted by MarshallPoe at 12:41 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by MarshallPoe at 12:41 PM on April 9, 2009
More about the accident from the LA Times.
...stories like this are a good reminder of the number of lives that are lost to stupid, preventable accidents.
Not an accident. Murder.
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posted by GalaxieFiveHundred at 12:45 PM on April 9, 2009 [2 favorites]
...stories like this are a good reminder of the number of lives that are lost to stupid, preventable accidents.
Not an accident. Murder.
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posted by GalaxieFiveHundred at 12:45 PM on April 9, 2009 [2 favorites]
but to make driver's licenses in the United States more of a privilege than a right
The guy that hit them didn't have a license.
posted by inigo2 at 12:48 PM on April 9, 2009
The guy that hit them didn't have a license.
posted by inigo2 at 12:48 PM on April 9, 2009
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posted by F Mackenzie at 12:52 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by F Mackenzie at 12:52 PM on April 9, 2009
And people here all indignant about red-light cameras being an invasion of their privacy.
It seems like the right to drive like an asshole is apparently a lot more important to the majority of people than the lives of lowly pedestrians or other drivers.
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posted by Jess the Mess at 1:02 PM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
It seems like the right to drive like an asshole is apparently a lot more important to the majority of people than the lives of lowly pedestrians or other drivers.
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posted by Jess the Mess at 1:02 PM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
That's rotten. And aggravating.
When you drive drunk, you show that you have no sense when it comes to getting drunk and jumping into your car. So when they take your license away for that, they take the car, too, right? And they warn everyone you live with or are related to that they'll go to jail and lose their cars if they let you drive their car? Or do the courts expect that you'll somehow magically have the sense not to get drunk and drive again just because you now don't have a license?
posted by pracowity at 1:08 PM on April 9, 2009
When you drive drunk, you show that you have no sense when it comes to getting drunk and jumping into your car. So when they take your license away for that, they take the car, too, right? And they warn everyone you live with or are related to that they'll go to jail and lose their cars if they let you drive their car? Or do the courts expect that you'll somehow magically have the sense not to get drunk and drive again just because you now don't have a license?
posted by pracowity at 1:08 PM on April 9, 2009
And people here all indignant about red-light cameras being an invasion of their privacy.
A red light camera would have *totally* stopped this from happening. Right.
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posted by Big_B at 1:57 PM on April 9, 2009
A red light camera would have *totally* stopped this from happening. Right.
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posted by Big_B at 1:57 PM on April 9, 2009
This is the trade society makes so we can all have cars and go places. I've been hit three times on bicycle. Rear ended twice while in cars. I haven't driven a car in about 14 years. Mostly because I don't want to ever be a killer.
Famous people get hit and killed rarely (because famous people are rare). About 100 ordinary people get hit and killed a day in United States alone.
Your odds of being in a serious accident this year are about 1 in 1000.
posted by srboisvert at 2:05 PM on April 9, 2009
Famous people get hit and killed rarely (because famous people are rare). About 100 ordinary people get hit and killed a day in United States alone.
Your odds of being in a serious accident this year are about 1 in 1000.
posted by srboisvert at 2:05 PM on April 9, 2009
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Really, truly sad. As an avid A's fan I have a long-standing, deep-rooted hatred of the Angels - and yet things like this remind me how silly all that stuff is. The Angels and their fans are hurting, and to them I offer my deepest sympathies.
posted by ORthey at 2:06 PM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Really, truly sad. As an avid A's fan I have a long-standing, deep-rooted hatred of the Angels - and yet things like this remind me how silly all that stuff is. The Angels and their fans are hurting, and to them I offer my deepest sympathies.
posted by ORthey at 2:06 PM on April 9, 2009 [1 favorite]
Good kid with a promising career ahead of him. This really looked like it was going to be "his" year.
Now I just I hope the team doesn't tacky up his memory with a year full of Angel puns.
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posted by rokusan at 2:21 PM on April 9, 2009
Now I just I hope the team doesn't tacky up his memory with a year full of Angel puns.
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posted by rokusan at 2:21 PM on April 9, 2009
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Its a sad story, I was shocked when I heard about it this morning.
posted by lilkeith07 at 3:54 PM on April 9, 2009
Its a sad story, I was shocked when I heard about it this morning.
posted by lilkeith07 at 3:54 PM on April 9, 2009
A red light camera would have *totally* stopped this from happening. Right.
Maybe not if it was the first time the driver had ever run a red, but if he had run a red or two before and gotten a nasty ticket for it thanks to the red light camera, he might not be so quick to do it again. And they do make it easier to identify the culprits in hit and runs.
posted by Jess the Mess at 4:17 PM on April 9, 2009
Maybe not if it was the first time the driver had ever run a red, but if he had run a red or two before and gotten a nasty ticket for it thanks to the red light camera, he might not be so quick to do it again. And they do make it easier to identify the culprits in hit and runs.
posted by Jess the Mess at 4:17 PM on April 9, 2009
Poor guy, I feel for his family and people who liked him as a player. What a horribly random way to go.
posted by GriffX at 4:17 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by GriffX at 4:17 PM on April 9, 2009
And people here all indignant about red-light cameras being an invasion of their privacy.
Er, you're the first person to have mentioned it. And red light cameras only fire for a couple seconds after the light turns red. They wouldn't have caught the license plate of a car barreling through the intersection while the other light was steady green, as it sounds like happened here.
So, you know, drop that issue that never really came up anyway. This isn't the right place to accuse people of flogging the hobby horse you rode in on. (I count three metaphors in that there mix, and I'm proud of each and every one.)
posted by mudpuppie at 4:18 PM on April 9, 2009
Er, you're the first person to have mentioned it. And red light cameras only fire for a couple seconds after the light turns red. They wouldn't have caught the license plate of a car barreling through the intersection while the other light was steady green, as it sounds like happened here.
So, you know, drop that issue that never really came up anyway. This isn't the right place to accuse people of flogging the hobby horse you rode in on. (I count three metaphors in that there mix, and I'm proud of each and every one.)
posted by mudpuppie at 4:18 PM on April 9, 2009
Maybe not if it was the first time the driver had ever run a red, but if he had run a red or two before and gotten a nasty ticket for it thanks to the red light camera, he might not be so quick to do it again.
The dude was (allegedly) drunk. He was (again, allegedly) going 20mph over the speed limit. No, I don't think an old red light camera ticket would've made any difference at all, and this has nothing to do with those.
And red light cameras only fire for a couple seconds after the light turns red.
Is this right? I could swear I once saw one go off when a car was forced to go through an already red light to let an ambulance get by.
posted by inigo2 at 4:28 PM on April 9, 2009
The dude was (allegedly) drunk. He was (again, allegedly) going 20mph over the speed limit. No, I don't think an old red light camera ticket would've made any difference at all, and this has nothing to do with those.
And red light cameras only fire for a couple seconds after the light turns red.
Is this right? I could swear I once saw one go off when a car was forced to go through an already red light to let an ambulance get by.
posted by inigo2 at 4:28 PM on April 9, 2009
Jess, red light cameras decrease safety a very great deal at intersections, because cars stop too soon and too abruptly, and get hit from behind.
The reason don't like cameras is because they're not about safety, they're about revenue.
posted by Malor at 4:39 PM on April 9, 2009
The reason don't like cameras is because they're not about safety, they're about revenue.
posted by Malor at 4:39 PM on April 9, 2009
Is this right? I could swear I once saw one go off when a car was forced to go through an already red light to let an ambulance get by.
It is for the ones in my (CA) jurisdiction. I could be extrapolating too broadly.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:52 PM on April 9, 2009
It is for the ones in my (CA) jurisdiction. I could be extrapolating too broadly.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:52 PM on April 9, 2009
Er, you're the first person to have mentioned it.
Sorry. I am indeed the first person on here to have mentioned it. I actually meant here as in where I live: Chicago. It seems like there's been a lot of bitching about it in the papers here recently. But I wasn't clear about that at all.
Jess, red light cameras decrease safety a very great deal at intersections, because cars stop too soon and too abruptly, and get hit from behind.
I can see how that could happen. I'll admit that I don't drive. I more concerned about it from the viewpoint of a pedestrian who has to take their life in their own hands every time they cross the street. Drivers in Chicago just piss me off because they're always whining about something, usually cyclists or how they're persecuted by the city because they don't obey the law. Meanwhile, they live in a city where most people don't need a car yet they insist on having one and doing whatever they want with it. But those are my own issues.
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:00 PM on April 9, 2009
Sorry. I am indeed the first person on here to have mentioned it. I actually meant here as in where I live: Chicago. It seems like there's been a lot of bitching about it in the papers here recently. But I wasn't clear about that at all.
Jess, red light cameras decrease safety a very great deal at intersections, because cars stop too soon and too abruptly, and get hit from behind.
I can see how that could happen. I'll admit that I don't drive. I more concerned about it from the viewpoint of a pedestrian who has to take their life in their own hands every time they cross the street. Drivers in Chicago just piss me off because they're always whining about something, usually cyclists or how they're persecuted by the city because they don't obey the law. Meanwhile, they live in a city where most people don't need a car yet they insist on having one and doing whatever they want with it. But those are my own issues.
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:00 PM on April 9, 2009
I was the passenger in a rollover accident last May. The car flipped three times and I broke 10 bones (mainly in my hand.) It's been almost a year and I'm still hesitant when getting in a car -- because people drive like total nuts. I don't speed (I didn't before, but I definitely don't now) and I couldn't tell you the number of drivers who are complete idiots on the road. I'm much more attuned to the stupidity of drivers now, and it's amazing to me how many people just don't obey simple traffic rules.
posted by melodykramer at 7:27 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by melodykramer at 7:27 PM on April 9, 2009
. for Adenhart, and . . for the other two people in the car that were killed.
posted by Rhomboid at 7:33 PM on April 9, 2009
posted by Rhomboid at 7:33 PM on April 9, 2009
This morning I watched a bit of the press conference held yesterday by some of the players, Manager Mike Scioscia, and Adenhart's agent, Scott Boras.
For those of you who don't know, Boras (often referred to as Bora$) is by a wide margin the biggest agent in baseball, if not in sports in general. Point to any major player's big ticket signing in the last ten years or so, and odds are Boras is involved. A-Rod, Teixeira, Manny, etc etc. As a result, he can't help but be painted as a villain for most sports fans. While I don't deny the necessity of his position, I would argue that his greed goes far beyond what is necessary. This year, things got especially ugly, as he advised some players to do some pretty foolhardy things. Jason Varitek is the first one who comes to mind. He advised Varitek to forego arbitration with the Red Sox and test free agency. When all was said and done, nobody else wanted him, and Tek signed a contract for less than half of what he would have earned through arbitration. Slight digression, point being: Most people think Boras is a jerk.
Scott Boras' time at the microphone started with a solid two minutes of him bawling. Head in hands, gasping for breath, bawling. Seeing that had a more profound effect on me than the reaction from players, fans, hell, even his own family, weird as it sounds. Boras has hundreds of clients, and Adenhart (though he likely would have made his huge commissions down the road) was not, at the time of his death, a high-grossing client by any stretch of the imagination. And yet clearly, the two had connected in a way far, far beyond business. It completely changed my impression of the man.
This whole thing has hit me so much harder than I possibly could have imagined. Part of it is the awful, beautiful poetry of it all as pointed out by mrt's comment above. It's also just an addendum to the fact that I'm getting older and noticing that, with every year, more baseball players are younger than me than the year before.
I can't even imagine how the Angels will continue to play with him gone. The weight of his absence is overbearing even for me, a guy who never met him, never saw him in person, and only saw him pitch one time, on the last day of his life.
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posted by SpiffyRob at 7:01 AM on April 10, 2009 [3 favorites]
For those of you who don't know, Boras (often referred to as Bora$) is by a wide margin the biggest agent in baseball, if not in sports in general. Point to any major player's big ticket signing in the last ten years or so, and odds are Boras is involved. A-Rod, Teixeira, Manny, etc etc. As a result, he can't help but be painted as a villain for most sports fans. While I don't deny the necessity of his position, I would argue that his greed goes far beyond what is necessary. This year, things got especially ugly, as he advised some players to do some pretty foolhardy things. Jason Varitek is the first one who comes to mind. He advised Varitek to forego arbitration with the Red Sox and test free agency. When all was said and done, nobody else wanted him, and Tek signed a contract for less than half of what he would have earned through arbitration. Slight digression, point being: Most people think Boras is a jerk.
Scott Boras' time at the microphone started with a solid two minutes of him bawling. Head in hands, gasping for breath, bawling. Seeing that had a more profound effect on me than the reaction from players, fans, hell, even his own family, weird as it sounds. Boras has hundreds of clients, and Adenhart (though he likely would have made his huge commissions down the road) was not, at the time of his death, a high-grossing client by any stretch of the imagination. And yet clearly, the two had connected in a way far, far beyond business. It completely changed my impression of the man.
This whole thing has hit me so much harder than I possibly could have imagined. Part of it is the awful, beautiful poetry of it all as pointed out by mrt's comment above. It's also just an addendum to the fact that I'm getting older and noticing that, with every year, more baseball players are younger than me than the year before.
I can't even imagine how the Angels will continue to play with him gone. The weight of his absence is overbearing even for me, a guy who never met him, never saw him in person, and only saw him pitch one time, on the last day of his life.
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posted by SpiffyRob at 7:01 AM on April 10, 2009 [3 favorites]
Maybe not if it was the first time the driver had ever run a red, but if he had run a red or two before and gotten a nasty ticket for it thanks to the red light camera, he might not be so quick to do it again.
Andrew Gallo, the driver of the van, was driving on a suspended license due to to a previous DUI, for which he was on probation. When he plead out that DUI, he wrote and signed a statement saying that he understood that continuing to drink and drive could result in somebody's death. So given that, I don't think a "nasty ticket" for running previous red lights would have done one bit of good in this case.
posted by scody at 1:09 PM on April 10, 2009
Andrew Gallo, the driver of the van, was driving on a suspended license due to to a previous DUI, for which he was on probation. When he plead out that DUI, he wrote and signed a statement saying that he understood that continuing to drink and drive could result in somebody's death. So given that, I don't think a "nasty ticket" for running previous red lights would have done one bit of good in this case.
posted by scody at 1:09 PM on April 10, 2009
Most people think Boras is a jerk...Scott Boras' time at the microphone started with a solid two minutes of him bawling.
This probably says more about me that I should care to admit, but my first reaction to seeing Boras at the press conference was, "Quit faking it, slimebag."
What a sad, sad, frustrating story this is. Even more so because it makes me think about all the other less famous victims of preventable traffic accidents who had lives just as promising as Adenhart's. My heart goes out to his family and fans.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:43 PM on April 10, 2009
This probably says more about me that I should care to admit, but my first reaction to seeing Boras at the press conference was, "Quit faking it, slimebag."
What a sad, sad, frustrating story this is. Even more so because it makes me think about all the other less famous victims of preventable traffic accidents who had lives just as promising as Adenhart's. My heart goes out to his family and fans.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:43 PM on April 10, 2009
Moreover, the traffic camera tickets are civil offenses not criminal, which effectively means they are pure fines and don't count in any regard towards losing one's license, not that it's relevant here as it's already been pointed out that his license had already been revoked at the time.
posted by Rhomboid at 10:26 PM on April 10, 2009
posted by Rhomboid at 10:26 PM on April 10, 2009
I was horribly sad to hear about this as well. As a baseball fan, one of the greatest joys is to see a player starting out and making a name for himself, and it seems that this was certainly a possibility for someone as talented as Adenhart was.
To see someone's life, no matter who they are, taken by a disgustingly irresponsible act like the one that resulted in this young man's death is truly appalling.
posted by elder18 at 1:35 PM on April 11, 2009
To see someone's life, no matter who they are, taken by a disgustingly irresponsible act like the one that resulted in this young man's death is truly appalling.
posted by elder18 at 1:35 PM on April 11, 2009
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posted by setanor at 9:23 AM on April 9, 2009