Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Matt Bush is being held without bail after he was arrested and charged with DUI in a hit-and-run crash that injured a motorcyclist in southwest Florida.
Bush, a No.1 draft choice by the San Diego Padres in 2004, was driving south on U.S. 41 in Port Charlotte Thursday afternoon when he struck the motorcycle driven by 72-year-old Anthony Tufano, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
“Literally the tire on the SUV ran over the driver’s head,” ESPN quotes a witness as saying. “Without the helmet, the gentleman would have been dead instantly.
After the accident, Bush, 26, drove north on U.S. 41. Multiple police agencies were notified and his 2011 Dodge Durango was located a short time later, the FHP said. Bush was arrested and taken to Charlotte County Jail. He remained in jail without bond on Friday morning.
Alcohol may have been a factor, the FHP added.
As for the victim, Mr. Tufano, ESPN reports that he was taken to the Lee Memorial Hospital Trauma Center. It’s unclear what kind of condition Tufano is in.
The Rays released a statement saying:
“The Tampa Bay Rays organization is deeply saddened by today’s tragic news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family. We will reserve further comment until we learn more about the incident that took place.’’
USA writes that this latest incident isn’t Bush’s first run-in with the law. In 2004, he was arrested and suspended by the Padres after getting into a bar fight in Arizona. He also had a drinking-related incident in 2009 before he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009.
For more on Matt Bush’s DUI Hit and Run arrest , watch the following video from local news SNN6:
via ESPN
