Police: Pirates Prospect Oneil Cruz Had Alcohol In System During Fatal Crash In Dominican Republic
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- One of the Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospects has been involved in a crash that killed three people in the Dominican Republic.
The Pirates say infielder Oneil Cruz is cooperating with authorities.
A Dominican newspaper reports Cruz was driving a jeep that hit a motorcycle and all three people on the motorcycle died. Our news partner at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a police report says Cruz had "ingested alcoholic beverages" before the crash.
Cruz will be in court on Wednesday and faces five years in prison if he is convicted, the PG reports. The crash happened Monday morning around 1 a.m., past a curfew set by officials, the Post-Gazette reports.
Cruz's condition is not clear.
In a statement to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates Senior Vice President of Communications Brian Warecki said, "The Pirates are aware of the tragic accident in the Dominican Republic involving Oneil Cruz. We have been in contact with Oneil and he is cooperating fully with the local authorities. We will provide an update as more information becomes available."
He is a native of the Dominican Republic and returned home just days ago from the Pirates training facility in Altoona.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
