Drunken Driver Sentenced in Angels Pitcher’s Death

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
December 22, 2010 at 9:57 pm

Convicted drunk driver Andrew Gallo has been sentenced to 51 years-to-life in prison for the high-speed crash that killed rookie Major League Baseball pitcher Nick Adenhart of the Los Angeles Angels and two other people.

Gallo was sentenced Wednesday following a hearing in a Santa Anna, California court at which he apologized to the victim's family and friends. He had been convicted of three counts of second-degree murder earlier this year.

The crash occurred April 9, 2009 when Gallo ran a red light following what witnesses described as a seven-hour drinking binge. Hours after the crash police measured his blood alcohol level at .19 — nearly three times the legal limit.

The 22-year-old Adenhart had pitched six scoreless innings for the Angels just hours before he died. Also killed in the crash were Adenhart's friends, Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson. A fourth victim, Jon Wilhite was was severely injured.