It’s been a tough week for major league pitchers and drunk driving adventures. On the same day that fellow pitcher Bobby Jenks was arrested for a DUI, Tampa Bay relief pitcher Matt Bush was also arrested for driving under the influence.
Bush, however, may be in much more trouble than Jenks, as Bush reportedly struck a motorcycle driver who is in serious condition in a Florida hospital, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times.
Last Thursday night, Bush was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for driving under the influence and feeling the scene of an accident, sources say.
According to a police report, Bush was driving a Dodge SUV at around 5 p.m. when he struck a motorcycle that was being driven by 72-year-old Anthony Trufano. During the accident, Trufano suffered numerous injuries, including broken bones and hemorrhaging in his brain.
At the time of the collision, Bush’s blood alcohol content was reportedly .180, which is more than twice the limit at which DUI laws assume a person is too impaired to drive. Because of the serious nature of the crime, police are currently holding Bush in jail without bail.
Sources indicate that alcohol issues have plagued Bush since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004 by the San Diego Padres. The Rays, however, chose to take a chance on Bush and had been pleased by Bush’s efforts to turn his life around.
But the team may now be regretting its decision. In an official statement, the Rays said “[o]ur thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family. We will reserve further comment until we learn more about the incident.”
The police report indicates that Bush told police he had a “serious alcohol problem” and that he did not remember seeing Trufano or his motorcycle before the crash.
One witness at the scene told the Tampa Bay Rays that Bush’s car drove directly over Trufano’s head, and that he was surprised the driver of the motorcycle was not dead.
Remarkably, Trufano survived the accident, although he is currently in serious condition at Lee Memorial Hospital. Trufano’s daughter-in-law told sources that the victim was able to speak, but he does not remember what happened on the night of the crash.
The daughter-in-law also expressed her disbelief that Bush fled the scene of the accident. In her words, “I just don’t understand how someone can run over someone’s head and leave them in the middle of the road.”
