CLEVELAND -- The tragic crash in the Dominican Republic involving Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz has taken several turns this week. Following the crash that took three lives on Monday, reports came out of the country Tuesday that Cruz would be charged with driving drunk.
However, during his arraignment Friday there was no charge of Cruz driving under the influence, and Cruz's lawyer said alcohol was never mentioned when police had Cruz incarcerated.
On his radio show on 93.7 The Fan Sunday, Ben Cherington expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in the crash, but also defended Cruz.
"This is a young man with a really bright future who was involved in a bad accident, and I want to emphasize that word accident," Cherington said. "There is not a single piece of evidence that we've seen that this is anything but an accident. Everything that we've learned, including from Oneil and his family, is consistent with that."
A source told DK Pittsburgh Sports the morning after the collision that alcohol was not suspected to be involved.
Cherington says Cruz went home from the Altoona training camp to the Dominican a few days before the camp let out because his pregnant girlfriend was having complications. They didn't see an opportunity for him to play in the majors this year so they let him go a bit early.
Bail was set for $2 million Dominican, or $34,000 U.S.
