Former Major Leaguer Teaches Us Not To Drink And Drive 
Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Jim Leyritz, the 44-year-old former Major League baseball player, was arrested on Friday for a felony DUI manslaughter charge after he collided his vehicle with another motorist who is now dead.

Fredia Ann Veitch, the 30-year-old mother of two, died of injuries at the hospital after the 3:19 AM crash rolled her car over on Ft. Lauderdale Street in Florida.  According to police, Leyritz failed several roadside sobriety test and smelled like alcohol, and also had red, watery eyes and a flushed face.  He refused to take a Breathalyzer test or provide a blood sample, but blood was later drawn - apparently against his will.

He was booked in Broward County instead of posting the $11,000 bond.  And get this, locals:  he's originally from Lakewood, Ohio.  The former catcher and infielder played mostly for the New York Yankees during his baseball career, but also played for the Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and L.A. Dodgers.

Family photo of Fredia Ann Veitch with daughter Kayla and son Julian.

Leyritz, aka "The King," is best known for his 3-run homer off of Atlanta Braves pitcher mark Wohlers in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, but was also known for snagging postseason home runs that won or tied games.

The Smoking Gun broke the story and has the full police report.

"I have a 5-year-old who cried himself to sleep last night," Fredia Ann Veitch's husband, Jordan Veitch, said of his son, Julian.  "He has a lot of questions."

"He asked me why Mommy wasn't going to come home; why Mommy was in the grass and who's going to take care of him," he told reporters on his front steps of their Fort Lauderdale home.  "She was a good mother and a good wife."

Please don't drink and drive, guys, seriously.  Cabs are not that expensive!!

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