Just hours after pitching six scoreless innings in his first start of the season for the Los Angeles Angels, rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in an auto accident in Fullerton, California. The accident also killed two other men and sent a fourth to the hospital in critical condition.

The accident occurred just after midnight on April 9 at an intersection. Witnesses say a red minivan ran a red light and struck two vehicles. A grey Mitsubishi carrying Adenhart and three others then slammed into a power pole. Two of the four in the vehicle died at the scene, and one died later at the hospital. A passenger in the minivan was treated for minor injuries, but the driver left the scene on foot.

The 22-year-old minivan driver was arrested a short time later now faces charges of manslaughter, felony driving under the influence, and hit-and-fun.

Auto accidents kill and maim hundreds of thousands of people a year. Drunken driving accidents certainly add numbers to these grim statistics. Yet it’s the standouts, like Nick Adenhart, that make the news when tragedy hits. This does not mean your auto accident is any less meaningful and if you are injured or lose a loved one, you may be able to seek compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of another party, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.