Date: 10/1/2008 7:22 PM
By DIONISIO SOLDEVILA
Associated Press Writer
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) _ Police were searching for New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos in his native Dominican Republic on Wednesday after a crash involving his SUV that killed two women.
The Hummer truck registered to the 24-year-old reliever struck pedestrians Josefina Minaya Martinez, 38, and Angely Fana, 29, Tuesday evening in the town of Nagua north of the Dominican capital, Police Col. Eulogio Taveras said. They later died of their injuries at a hospital.
Based on witness reports, “the investigation indicates that Burgos was the driver of the (vehicle) that hit the women,” Taveras said in a statement.
But Taveras added that a relative of the right-hander, Edwin Silvestre Sanchez, claimed to be behind the wheel. He said police were trying to locate Burgos, who could not immediately be reached by The Associated Press.
Burgos was arrested last month in New York on assault and harassment charges after allegedly throwing his girlfriend to the ground. Police in the borough of Queens said the woman was treated at a hospital and released.
Burgos has appeared in court on those charges but did not enter a plea, according to prosecutors. He’s due in U.S. court again Oct. 23 and faces up to a year in jail if convicted of the more serious misdemeanor assault charge.
Burgos, who has not thrown in the major leagues since last year, spent the past season on the disabled list following elbow ligament replacement surgery. He pitched in the minors last month while on a rehabilitation assignment.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.