Sadness in Cardinal Nation

[OK!]

How awful for Josh and his poor family...

http://kmox.com/pages/401552.php?contentType=4&contentId=453012

Posted: Sunday, 29 April 2007 10:17AM
BREAKING NEWS: Cardinal Pitcher Josh Hancock Dead

St. Louis (KMOX News) -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died in a car accident on I-64 just before one o'clock this morning. MoDOT tells KMOX News the car involved in the accident plowed into the back of a tow truck.

The 29-year old reliever was in his second season with the Cardinals. The club has postponed the game originally scheduled for tonight. Stay with KMOX for continuing coverage of this story.

Heard on the radio that once the St. Louis PD notified the Cardinals, Tony La Russa was the one who volunteered to notify Josh's family. I can't even imagine.

 

[Kitty 34]

How sad.

 

[mommasita]

Tragic

 

[JR6ooo4]

So how is the tow truck driver? I must assume, without more info, that he is the real victim in this situation.

Mikeeee

 

[PoohsFriend1]

We were at the game Friday night & he threw a practice ball to my nephew. We were supposed to go tonight. Prayers for his family.

 

[OK!]

So how is the tow truck driver? I must assume, without more info, that he is the real victim in this situation.

Mikeeee

The tow-truck driver was unharmed, as was the person he stopped to help. So, in fact, there is only one victim of this accident.

 

[OK!]

Eerie footnote to this story: Hancock overslept on Thursday and was late getting to the ballpark; when he woke up, he saw on his cell that he'd missed 30-some calls from various Cardinals, frantically checking on him, especially given the manner in which they learned that Darryl Kile had passed away in 2002--DK was late getting to Wrigley for a day game against the Cubs.

This is so shocking. I feel like it's 2002 all over again. I'll never forget JH's lockerroom interviews he gave immediately following the World Series win--he was just like a little kid, so exuberant and joyous, especially given the rocky road he'd traveled to get there (being released by the Reds).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the info...prayers go out to the families.

 

[OK!]

Oh, and for anybody local, the Cards' press conference will be aired on Ch. 5 at 3 pm. Of course, they're also airing the Rangers-Sabres game, too, so I don't know what all's going to happen there; I'm assuming they'll preempt the game.

It'll also be on KMOX.

 

[Beth76]

Thanks for posting. I hadn't heard.

 

[geetey]

I am glad to see someone started this thread. Thanks, OK! This really is a sad day for the Cardinals. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.

 

[JennyMominRI]

There was a moment of silence at the Sox-Yankees game too..He used to be with the sox

 

[NewJersey]

How awful. I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[JR6ooo4]

The tow-truck driver was unharmed, as was the person he stopped to help. So, in fact, there is only one victim of this accident.

Good point, I need to read more of the facts.
How fast was he going to cause a fatal crash? I'm sure he made enough money to afford a car with airbags.
Why did he not see the tow truck safety lights and slow to a safe speed?

If he was the cause of the "accident", then, in my mind, the victims are the ones who have to live the rest of their lives with the results of his actions.

Mikeeee

 

[geetey]

Mikeeee,
A quick google news search on Josh Hancock will give you the information you are looking for if it's available. http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=josh hancock&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

 

[Beth76]

How fast was he going to cause a fatal crash?

Well he was on the highway so he was probably going at least 60. This particular highway is under construction in some areas and can be pretty treacherous in others. It was late and there was a truck stopped in the left lane of the highway. It was just a horrible accident.

 

[olena]

I thought you were going to say we lost Stan 'The Man' Musial.

The Braves game just came on and they're doing a tribute to Josh.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Mikeeee,
A quick google news search on Josh Hancock will give you the information you are looking for if it's available. http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=josh hancock&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn

It says the truck was in the left lane. Maybe there was no shoulder. But those lights are very easy to see at night.

I went down to st louis a few months ago and the interchange from illinois is crazy. It looks like you are in the correct lane for the sign ahead and then you go over a hill and the road curves and you have to shift one or two lanes to be under the sign again. I'm not sure of the location of the accident.

Even at 60 MPH you can reduce a car to non-fatal speeds in a hundred feet, for a brunt impact. The problem with tow trucks is the bed extends backwards so most cars or even trucks will go underneath and the bed hits the windshield.

So either he was following too close to another vehicle and could not see the safety lights. then that vehicle changed lanes quickly leaving no reaction time. Or, he was traveling too fast for conditions to avoid the accident.

Maybe at this time I should mention that a friend from our church just lost a family member who was working nighttime construction here in chicago. Run over and killed because the driver was going to fast and lost control.

Mikeeee

 

[DWDreams]

Good point, I need to read more of the facts.
How fast was he going to cause a fatal crash? I'm sure he made enough money to afford a car with airbags.
Why did he not see the tow truck safety lights and slow to a safe speed?

If he was the cause of the "accident", then, in my mind, the victims are the ones who have to live the rest of their lives with the results of his actions.

Mikeeee

Wow to the above.

Anyway, my condolances to his family, friends, Cardinal family, and fans. A very sad day.

 

[crzyred]

It says the truck was in the left lane. Maybe there was no shoulder. But those lights are very easy to see at night.

I went down to st louis a few months ago and the interchange from illinois is crazy. It looks like you are in the correct lane for the sign ahead and then you go over a hill and the road curves and you have to shift one or two lanes to be under the sign again. I'm not sure of the location of the accident.

Even at 60 MPH you can reduce a car to non-fatal speeds in a hundred feet, for a brunt impact. The problem with tow trucks is the bed extends backwards so most cars or even trucks will go underneath and the bed hits the windshield.

So either he was following too close to another vehicle and could not see the safety lights. then that vehicle changed lanes quickly leaving no reaction time. Or, he was traveling too fast for conditions to avoid the accident.

Maybe at this time I should mention that a friend from our church just lost a family member who was working nighttime construction here in chicago. Run over and killed because the driver was going to fast and lost control.

Mikeeee

i guess that explains all the hostility you are having towards this. i'm sorry about your friend. i guess we could look at this and say at least no one else was injured, right?

however, this is a sad time. many prayers are being said.