Angels' Pitcher dies in car wreck

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/Angels_Pitcher_Dies_In_Three_Car_Crash_20090409
Fullerton (myFOXla.com) - Three people were killed today, including Los Angeles pitcher Nick Adenhart and a fourth person was critically injured in a three-vehicle crash blamed on a motorist who ran a red light at a Fullerton intersection, authorities said.

The accident occurred at East Orangethorpe Avenue and South Lemon Street around 12:20 a.m., said Fullerton police Lt. Doug Cave.

Cave said two of the vehicles -- one traveling on Lemon, the other on Orangethorpe -- crashed in the intersection.

"From preliminary information, it appears that one of those vehicles ran a red light," Cave said.

One vehicle, a silver Mitsubishi, slammed into a light pole, an On Scene Video camera crew reported. A male and female in the car were declared dead at the scene, Fullerton police Lt. Craig Brower said. Their names were not immediately released.

Two others riding in the Mitsubishi suffered critical injuries and were taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where one of them later died, Brower said.

The male driver of the other vehicle, a minivan, fled on foot following the crash but was apprehended by police and taken into custody a short time later on suspicion of hit-and-run, Brower said. A passenger who remained in the minivan suffered minor injuries, he added.

A third vehicle, which was stopped in the intersection, was also struck in the accident but sustained only minor damage, and its driver was not hurt, Cave said.

"The entire area leading up to Orangethorpe and Lemon will be closed through the morning hours, likely through the morning commute," Cave said.