Jim Leyritz, who played with the Yankees, from 1990-1996 and then again in 1999 and 2000, was arrested early Friday morning after getting in a car accident in Broward County, Florida. Thursday was Leyritz's 44th birthday and he was presumably driving his Ford Expedition home early Friday morning when witnesses said they saw him run a red light. His car hit a Mitsubishi Montero driven by 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch. The woman was ejected from her car during the accident and died of her injuries after being taken to a hospital. Leyritz is being charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage. He was released after posting an $11,000 bond.
Officers at the scene said that Leyritz's eyes were red and watery, and there was a smell of alcohol on him. After he refused to take a breathalyzer test, he was required to submit to a blood test. The results of the blood test are still pending.
Jim Leyritz played 11 seasons of Major League Baseball before retiring in 2000. He is best remembered by Yankees fans for his Game 4 heroics in the 1996 World Series. New York was down 2-1 in the series to the Braves and Atlanta jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in Game 4. In the top of the 8th inning, Leyritz hit a three-run homer that tied the game 6-6. The Yankees would go on to win the game 8-6 in 10 innings, and the next two games to win the franchise's first World Series since 1978.
(Leyritz hitting his famous homerun in 1996 and his mugshot from 12/28/07)
