Dominican Republic investigators say Oneil Cruz, one of the top prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was under the influence of alcohol when he was involved in a collision Monday night that killed three people, according to an ESPN report.
Oneil Cruz está siendo acusado de provocar la muerte de tres personas en un accidente de tránsito en República Dominicana.
— ESPN.com.do?? (@ESPN_DO) September 23, 2020
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Update on @Pirates’ Oneil Cruz: He was driving under the influence of alcohol when crashed and killed three, according to prosecutors.
— Dionisio Soldevila (@dSoldevila) September 22, 2020
ESPN reported Cruz, 21, faces a hearing Wednesday before the Special Transit Court of the Peace of the Peravia province in the Dominican Republic. Cruz was driving a jeep that collided with a motorcycle with three passengers on a highway after curfew. According to Diario Libre, a Dominican news outlet, “the motorcycle was traveling ahead in the same direction, supposedly without any type of light and in the left lane.”
The 6-foot-7 Cruz is a shortstop who is ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Pirates organization and No. 60 in the majors by MLB.com. Cruz, a member of the 40-man roster, spent the summer at the Pirates’ alternate training facility in Altoona. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Cruz planned to return to the Dominican Republic when that camp ended last week.
“The Pirates are aware of the tragic accident in the Dominican Republic involving Oneil Cruz,” Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement. “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.”
