Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 24, 1993 TAG: 9303240230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: CLERMONT, FLA. LENGTH: Long
DEATHS DEVASTATE INDIANS BOAT CRASH KILLS 2, INJURES 1
Tim Crews had not wanted to take his fellow Cleveland Indians pitchers fishing Monday in Little Lake Nellie in central Florida. The water level was too low for him to navigate his bass boat through the channel into Big Lake Nellie.So Crews settled for fishing on the small lake, which adjoins the ranch where he keeps his six horses. It was there, after twilight Monday, that Crews ran the 18-foot Skeeter boat under the end of a private dock.
Because the lake was low, the dock caught Crews, Steve Olin and Bob Ojeda at about the level of their heads. Olin, 27, was killed instantly. Crews, 31, was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Center with a damaged lung and a serious head injury. He was pronounced dead at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday.
Ojeda, 35, was listed in serious but stable condition Tuesday at South Lake Memorial Hospital in nearby Orlando with skull lacerations and kidney injuries. Doctors hope for a complete recovery; Indians officials would not speculate on when or whether he will be able to pitch.
Two mothers, Patti Olin and Laurie Crews, were left widowed with three children apiece, including the Olins' 7-month-old twins.
Cleveland, a team optimistic about its future after more than three decades of futility, were left presiding over the first deaths of active major-leaguers since New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson died after crashing his small plane in August 1979.
"Most of our players are in a state of shock," said Cleveland general manager John Hart, holding back tears. "It's difficult to put into words what this means. We know we have a season to play, and we know we will do that. We'll operate with what Steve and Tim would want to see happen this year. Our hearts truly go out to their families."
The flag flew at half-staff at Chain O'Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla., the team's spring-training home, and there was no game Tuesday. The Indians canceled their exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles at Winter Haven as well as today's game there against the New York Mets. They plan to resume preparation for their April 5 season opener with a workout today and a Thursday exhibition against the Orioles in Winter Haven.
Some Indians players learned of the tragedy late Monday night and Ojeda gathered at a hotel near the ballpark. Shortly before dawn, Hart and manager Mike Hargrove informed the players of the deaths at a meeting in the stadium clubhouse.
Former Indians player Andre Thornton, an ordained minister, will lead a private memorial service tonight in Winter Haven.
The Florida Freshwater Fish and Game Commission is investigating the accident, which occurred within sight of the house the Crews family moved into in January. There are questions about the possible role of alcohol consumption, the speed of the boat, the length of the dock - one of only four on the lake - and its lack of lighting.
Lt. Bruce Cooper, investigating officer for the commission, said agents recovered from the boat an "almost-full" liter bottle of vodka along with six full beer cans and one empty beer can.
Divers searched the lake Tuesday for items related to the accident. Cooper said it could be several days before toxicology and autopsy reports are complete.
Hart said he was told by strength and conditioning coach Fernando Montes that the pitchers had not been drinking. Montes made the trip to the lake with the players but was on shore at the time of the accident.
Crews had invited teammates to his 46-acre ranch on the Indians' first scheduled off day of spring training. Most of the players decided to visit DisneyWorld or other attractions, but Olin, Ojeda and Montes made the hourlong drive with their families to Crews' house.
Crews, Olin and Ojeda headed out on the lake after dinner. They were to be joined by Perry Brigmond, one of Crews' regular fishing companions, but he arrived at the house after the others had left.
Brigmond witnessed the accident after driving Crews' pickup truck, with Montes aboard, to the lake shore and flashing the headlights to get the boaters' attention. He said they turned the boat around and were headed back to pick him up when they hit the dock. He did not immediately consider it a major event.
"I saw the bow light rise, and I knew they were coming," Brigmond said. "I saw the bow light go down, and as soon as it did they hit something. I just thought they had hit a stump, ran over the top of a dock or something, which is pretty common."
Brigmond drove the truck around the lake to get to the scene of the accident. Brigmond said all three men were still in the boat.
He said Ojeda was saying, " `Help them. They need help.' I believe he was more concerned with the others' well-being than his own. But he was hurt, too."
There were no lights or reflectors on the private dock. Lt. Tom Croft, investigating the accident for the fish and game commission, would not say whether that was a violation of regulatory codes.
The owners of the dock declined to talk with reporters.
Crews' boat, equipped with a 150-horsepower engine and reportedly capable of reaching 65 mph, incurred only minor damage. The dock was damaged but not destroyed. Cooper said the throttle on the boat was found "virtually all the way forward."
However, Brigmond said he doubted the boat was traveling near top speed because it had just turned in a tight circle to retrieve him.
Keywords:
FATALITY