Nick Adenhart, 1986-2009

Fullerton, CA -
From the OC Register:

Three people – including Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart – were killed and another person was seriously injured at an intersection in Fullerton early this morning in a three-vehicle crash that authorities said was caused by a motorist who ran a red light.

Forget baseball.
Forget Pro Sports.
Forget anything and everything that doesn't matter.

Like many my age, my freshman year in high school was a difficult one. I struggled to find my place socially, personally. I made a friend in the music department - Music was long my passion, and Tim shared it.

Tim was great, a friend, a senior, passionate musician, great student, great friend.

Then one day, shortly after his 18th birthday, Tim was sitting in his car at a red light. A drunk driver, who'd been pulled over just moments before and released, reacted poorly, and struck Tims vehicle.

Tim died that day.

I remember the funeral. It was my first.
I remember the questions, the anger, the tears, all of it.

I'll never forget.

Last night, a man named Andrew Thomas Gallo, also only 22 years old, made the biggest mistake of his life.

One which he'll never forget.

He chose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, drunk.

That decision killed three people, one of whom was a rising star in the professional sporting world, just finally tasting his dream.

Filled with promise, Adenhart was the future of the Angels staff. Now, the organization suffers his loss.

For a team that is built entirely on chemistry, on picking each other up, on bonding, on playing like a family out there for all the fans to see, this must be the ultimate sucker punch.

No baseball here today folks, just this.

Help Orange County Mothers Against Drunk Drivers or check out the national siteMothers Against Drunk Driving and get involved. Both sites have GREAT information, and you can help by writing to politicians to enforce tougher laws on DUI.