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Chron: Cardinals Pitcher Josh Hancock was drunk the night he died

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by Brando2101, May 4, 2007.

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Brando2101 Member

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The guy had a blood alcohol level of .157, weed in the car (and maybe in his system) and he did not have his seat belt on. He hit the back of a tow truck going over 60 mph. I mean you would not say the guy deserved it but I'm just thankful he didn't kill someone else with his carelessness.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/sports/4775889.html

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was drunk and talking on his cell phone at the time of his fatal accident, and mar1juana was found in the sport utility vehicle he was driving.

Medical examiner Michael Graham said at a news conference Friday that the 29-year-old reliever was dead "within seconds" from head injuries in the crash early Sunday on Interstate 64 in St. Louis. His vehicle hit the back of a tow truck parked on the highway to assist a driver from a previous accident.

"There is nothing at all that could have been done for him," Graham said.

Hancock's blood-alcohol level was 0.157, nearly twice Missouri's legal limit of 0.08, Graham said.

Police Chief Joe Mokwa said 8.55 grams of mar1juana and a glass pipe used to smoke mar1juana were found in the rented Ford Explorer. Toxicology tests to determine if drugs were in his system had not been completed.

An accident reconstruction team determined Hancock was traveling 68 mph in a 55 mph zone when his SUV struck the back of a flatbed tow truck stopped in a driving lane. Mokwa said there was no evidence Hancock tried to stop. He did swerve, but too late to avoid the collision.

Hancock was not wearing a seat belt, but Graham said the belt would not have prevented his death.

Mokwa said Hancock was speaking with a female acquaintance about baseball and baseball tickets and that the conversation ended abruptly, apparently when the accident occurred. A police report said Hancock told the female acquaintance he was on his way to another bar, and that he planned to meet her there.

Hancock, a key bullpen member on the World Series championship team last season, was driving alone.

Hancock, who pitched three innings of relief in last Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Cubs, left Busch Stadium around 6:30 p.m. and arrived about two hours later at Mike Shannon's, a restaurant and bar owned by the former Cardinals third baseman who now is a team broadcaster. Police said Hancock left Shannon's shortly after midnight.

Around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, the tow truck came upon a disabled Geo Prism and stopped behind it with its yellow lights flashing to protect the car. A few moments later, Hancock's SUV struck the rear of the tow truck. The tow truck driver was not hurt.

"If you drink, don't drive," Mokwa said. "Use a taxi. Have a designated driver. Call a friend."

Graham said Hancock had severe chest injuries as well as the fatal head injuries.

An estimated 500 mourners turned out Thursday for a memorial service for Hancock in Tupelo, Miss., recalling the pitcher as a goodhearted prankster. Among the mourners were Hancock's teammates, coaches, manager Tony La Russa and general manager Walt Jocketty. Hancock was buried Wednesday in rural Itawamba County, Miss.

Hancock made his major league debut in September 2002 and played for four major league clubs. He went 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 62 regular-season appearances for the Cardinals last season, leading the bullpen in innings, and pitched in three postseason games.

He was 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA in eight games this season.

Hancock joined the Cardinals in spring training last season after Cincinnati released him for violating a weight clause in his contract. He also pitched for Boston and Philadelphia.

The Cardinals postponed a home game the day of the accident against Chicago and haven't won since. They were swept in a three-game series in Milwaukee and had a day off Thursday.

Three days before the fatal wreck, Hancock was involved in another accident. The front bumper of his SUV was torn off in a crash with a tractor-trailer that happened at 5:30 a.m. on April 26 in Sauget, Ill., when Hancock moved forward into an intersection to make a left turn.

Hancock's death marked the second time in five years the Cardinals have mourned the loss of a teammate. Pitcher Darryl Kile was found dead in his Chicago hotel room in 2002. Kile, 33, died of a coronary artery blockage.
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#1 Brando2101, May 4, 2007
Last edited: May 5, 2007

Uprising Member

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Heard about him being intoxicated on the radio, didn't know about the mar1juana.

#2 Uprising, May 4, 2007
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It's like being the poster boy for everything you're not supposed to do while driving.

Drunk
No Seatbelt
Speeding
Talking on the cell phone

And he had pot in the car. Plus, he was on his way to another bar, probably to get even more drunk.

I'm sorry the guy died and I'm not say he deserved it either. But he brought it upon himself.

#3 Cannonball, May 4, 2007
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Well I feel sorry for his family but not for him. If your smoking dank and driving drunk whatever happens it's on you.

#4 texanskan, May 4, 2007
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I hope the family doesn't have their TVs on for the next couple weeks. It sucks that this has to be aired out in public and their loss has to be an example for the whole country to watch. If it saves people from the same fate (doubtful in my mind), then I guess it's worth talking about.

Sucks for the poor guys family is all I'm saying. The drinking, speeding and cellphone was a horrible decision on his part, but isn't that common sense and not something we have to publicly pick a position on?

#5 HAYJON02, May 4, 2007
pgabriel Educated Negro

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HAYJON02 said:

I hope the family doesn't have their TVs on for the next couple weeks. It sucks that this has to be aired out in public and their loss has to be an example for the whole country to watch. If it saves people from the same fate (doubtful in my mind), then I guess it's worth talking about.
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you can't have one without the other. his death wouldn't even be in the news if he wasn't a public figure. its messed up, but its not malicious are anything.

#6 pgabriel, May 4, 2007
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what is a toe truck?

#7 NJRocket, May 4, 2007

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NJRocket said:

what is a toe truck?
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#8 MadMax, May 4, 2007
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Good, one less dumbass on the road.

#9 AGBee, May 4, 2007
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i knew this was going to be the story with this guy. Still feel bad for him and his family.

#10 Summer Song Giver, May 4, 2007
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AGBee said:

Good, one less dumbass on the road.
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wow

#11 s land balla, May 4, 2007
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sLaNd B a L L a said:

wow
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Sucks for his family but I have no sympathy for a guy that puts innocent people's lives at risk with reckless behavior.

#12 AGBee, May 4, 2007
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AGBee said:

Sucks for his family but I have no sympathy for a guy that puts innocent people's lives at risk with reckless behavior.
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It's one thing to have sympathy for the guy, it's another to think it's good he died.

#13 Rocketman95, May 4, 2007

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poor guy, but i got no respect for ppl who drink and drive

better him alone that him and a family of 4 who just got back form seeing disney on ice

#14 Nice Rollin, May 4, 2007
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Rocketman95 said:

It's one thing to have sympathy for the guy, it's another to think it's good he died.
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He made his coffin, now he's sleeping in it.

#15 AGBee, May 4, 2007
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HAYJON02 said:

I hope the family doesn't have their TVs on for the next couple weeks. It sucks that this has to be aired out in public and their loss has to be an example for the whole country to watch. If it saves people from the same fate (doubtful in my mind), then I guess it's worth talking about.

Sucks for the poor guys family is all I'm saying. The drinking, speeding and cellphone was a horrible decision on his part, but isn't that common sense and not something we have to publicly pick a position on?
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The media and crazy people will remind them with phone calls.

#16 Invisible Fan, May 4, 2007
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AGBee said:

He made his coffin, now he's sleeping in it.
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Hardcore. I can only assume that you have suffered loss because of a drunk driver. If so, my sympathies...

#17 Another Brother, May 4, 2007
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AGBee said:

He made his coffin, now he's sleeping in it.
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I agree. Doesn't mean there's a reason to be happy about it.

#18 Rocketman95, May 4, 2007

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I'm not glad he's dead. But I also have very strong feelings against people who drive while intoxicated. Apparently LaRussa had a "very serious heart to heart" conversation with him two days prior "about the importance of being responsible" because of ANOTHER accident he was in the day before (3 days before his death). At least he didn't kill anyone else, which would have been 100 times worse. Seems like so many times intoxicated drivers kill other people instead of themselves.

The tragedy of losing him along with this public airing must be very hard for his family.

#19 A_3PO, May 4, 2007
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We had a case here a few years ago. Three grown sisters had rented a limousine for a night out together to celebrate one of their birthdays. Their limo was hit by a drunk driver and all three were killed almost immediately leaving their elderly parents childless. The killer had several DUI convictions.

#20 giddyup, May 5, 2007

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