Current, former major leaguers die in Dominican crashes
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former major leaguer Andy Marte died in separate traffic accidents early Sunday in their native Dominican Republic.
Highway patrol spokesman Jacobo Mateo said Ventura died on a highway leading to the town of Juan Adrian, about 40 miles (70 kilometres) northwest of Santo Domingo. He said it was not clear if Ventura was driving.
Metropolitan traffic authorities said they had opened an investigation into the crash, as well as that of Marte, who died when the Mercedes Benz he was driving hit a house along a road between San Francisco de Macoris and Pimentel, about 95 miles (150 kilometres) north of the capital.
Traffic authority spokesman Diego Pesqueira told The Associated Press there were no rains registered at the time of Ventura’s accident but that it is often foggy in the early morning. He added that the vehicle’s tires were in good condition and experts think the cause of the accident was speeding. The official results of the investigation will be released in the coming days.