FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Toxicology results show former major leaguer Jim Leyritz's blood-alcohol levels were nearly twice the legal limit the day he was involved in a fatal crash in December.
Leyritz, initially charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage after the crash, will now face an additional manslaughter charge, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police Department news release.
Results of the tests show that the 44-year-old Leyritz had a blood-alcohol levels of 0.14 at 6:10 a.m. and 0.13 at 7:12 a.m. on Dec. 28, the day his 2006 Ford Expedition crashed at an intersection and collided with the car of Fredia Ann Veitch. The legal limit for Florida drivers is 0.08.
Veitch, a 30-year-old woman from Plantation, was ejected from her 2000 Mitsubishi Montero and died at Broward General Medical Center. Leyritz has been released on $11,000 bond.
A message left with Leyritz's attorney, Jeffrey Ostrow, wasn't immediately returned late Wednesday night.
Leyritz played for six major league teams and was last in the majors in 2000. In 1996, he hit a home run for the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series against Atlanta. The homer made it 6-6, and the Yankees went on to win in 10 innings. New York took the series in six games for its first title in 18 years.
Leyritz was mostly a catcher during his 11 seasons.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
