Baseball Guru
10-10-2003, 05:54 PM
October 10, 2003
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vincente Padilla was involved in a car accident in which his driver was killed during a trip to the player's hometown.
The pitcher broke his collarbone and a finger on his right hand, the hospital director said. The player's agent, however, insisted his client was not injured.
The driver, Abrahan Flores, apparently fell asleep at the wheel and the car careened off the highway and rolled, police said.
Padilla, a 26-year-old star right-hander, also bruised his right shoulder Thursday night while making the 70-mile trip from the capital of Managua to Chinandega, police added.
Padilla was treated at the Hospital Espana in Chinandega and released the same night, hospital director Alejandro Paguaga said. But Padilla's agent, Rudy Valenzuela, said Padilla told an employee with his company on Friday that he was fine.
``He had his seat belt on. There's nothing broken,'' Valenzuela told The Associated Press. ``There's nothing wrong with his finger unless he's keeping something from us. Vicente's not like that. Then again, this is very traumatic for him. He lost his best friend.''
Philadelphia general manager Ed Wade said the Phillies had not yet spoken with Padilla.
The pitcher was returning home after spending some time in Miami, Valenzuela said. Flores picked him up from the airport and they were returning to Chinandega.
Padilla was 14-12 this season with a 3.62 ERA for the Phillies, who finished third in the NL East.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vincente Padilla was involved in a car accident in which his driver was killed during a trip to the player's hometown.
The pitcher broke his collarbone and a finger on his right hand, the hospital director said. The player's agent, however, insisted his client was not injured.
The driver, Abrahan Flores, apparently fell asleep at the wheel and the car careened off the highway and rolled, police said.
Padilla, a 26-year-old star right-hander, also bruised his right shoulder Thursday night while making the 70-mile trip from the capital of Managua to Chinandega, police added.
Padilla was treated at the Hospital Espana in Chinandega and released the same night, hospital director Alejandro Paguaga said. But Padilla's agent, Rudy Valenzuela, said Padilla told an employee with his company on Friday that he was fine.
``He had his seat belt on. There's nothing broken,'' Valenzuela told The Associated Press. ``There's nothing wrong with his finger unless he's keeping something from us. Vicente's not like that. Then again, this is very traumatic for him. He lost his best friend.''
Philadelphia general manager Ed Wade said the Phillies had not yet spoken with Padilla.
The pitcher was returning home after spending some time in Miami, Valenzuela said. Flores picked him up from the airport and they were returning to Chinandega.
Padilla was 14-12 this season with a 3.62 ERA for the Phillies, who finished third in the NL East.