Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in car accident

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 lost the game 6-4.

The team postponed Thursday's game with Oakland, the final one of their season-opening series.

"It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten," manager Mike Scioscia said.

Adenhart's next start would have come at Safeco Field on Tuesday. He was scheduled to be on the mound when the Angels faced the Mariners in Seattle's home opener.

Except for spring training, Adenhart had not yet faced the Mariners in his brief career, which included three starts last May in addition to Wednesday's appearance against the A's.

Adenhart's father, Jim, a retired Secret Service agent, walked onto the field in empty Angel Stadium 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.

Jim Adenhart also spoke during a closed-door meeting of players and team officials.

"He just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity, thank you for raising his kid in minor-league ball on up through the system in the Angels' organization," 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 impact spun around both vehicles, and one then struck another car but that driver was not hurt, police said.

The minivan driver fled the crash on foot and 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 interviewed by investigators before he was booked in jail 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.

Stewart was a student at nearby Cal State Fullerton, where she was a cheerleader in 2007-08.

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. Wilhite played baseball from 2004 to 2008 at Cal State Fullerton.

Stewart's mother said her daughter and Adenhart had known each other since last season but were not dating as far as she knew, Hamilton said.

The mother said Adenhart and the others had gone dancing at a club about a block away from the crash site, although the crash scene appeared to indicate the car was heading in the direction of the club, Hamilton said.

At the ballpark Wednesday night, Adenhart did his job. He scattered seven hits over six scoreless innings and escaped twice after loading the bases in just his fourth major-league start.

"I battled early, and it felt good to get out of some jams," he said.

Adenhart left with a 4-0 lead before the bullpen gave away what would have been his second major-league victory.

During Thursday's closed-door session, "we were just kind of reminiscing about what Nick brought to the team, to the clubhouse," Hunter said.

"He was a very funny kid, and he's going to be missed. Every time you come to the stadium and you go in that clubhouse, you're looking at Nick Adenhart's locker.

"A lot of these guys in here have never lost anybody in their family that's close to them. I hate that this happened, but this is part of life. This is the real deal," Hunter said.

"That's why you've got to kiss your kids, kiss your family every day when you get up in the morning and before you leave for work."

Adenhart had made a slow climb to reach the majors.

He hurt his pitching elbow two weeks before the June 2004 major-league draft, when he was projected as a top-five pick out of Williamsport High School in Maryland.

But the setback dropped him to the 14th round, where the Angels selected him. He underwent Tommy John surgery — a reconstructive operation on an elbow ligament — later that month and spent most of the next four seasons in the minors.

Adenhart struggled with a 9.00 earned-run average in three starts for the Angels last season, but Scioscia said last month the right-hander had worked hard over the winter and arrived at spring training with a purpose.

He was made the No. 3 starter as the season began this week because of injuries to John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar, all of whom are on the disabled list.

After the game "he was so elated ... he felt like a major-leaguer," said his agent, Scott Boras.

Seattle Times staff reporter Larry Stone contributed to this story.