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As the investigation around Yordano Ventura’s death continues, details are starting to emerge about just what happened that night. Initially there were disturbing allegations from the Dominican Republic about the incident. According to Euri Cabral, a Dominican journalist, on Zol de la mañana on 106.5 FM, Ventura was found alive but assaulted by looters and stripped of his World Series ring after crashing.
Wednesday update: New information provided by journalist Bienvenido Rojas disputes the notion that Ventura was robbed, according to the Kansas City Star. Rojas has tweeted a previously unseen photo that shows Ventura still wearing his watch and jewelry, although his World Series ring is still unaccounted for. An autopsy performed on Tuesday concluded that Ventura died upon impact.
The initial reports angered Hall of Fame pitcher and Dominican native Pedro Martinez who tweeted the following:
Que indignante saber que una vida como la de Yordano pudo haberse salvado de no haber sido que lo saquearan de la forma en que lo saquearon
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) January 24, 2017
Ahora es más doloroso al saber que Yordano quedo vivo luego del accidente y en vez de alguien socorrerlo, le robaron y lo dejaron morir.
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) January 24, 2017
Ojalá se levante una investigación, pues si existen evidencias puntuales de esto, sentiría mucha vergüenza ajena por mi país.
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) January 24, 2017
Here is the translation, according to Google Translate:
“How outrageous to know that a life like Yordano's could have been saved had it not been that they looted him the way he was looted.”
“Now it is more painful to know that Yordano remained alive after the accident and instead of someone to help him, they robbed him and let him die.”
“I hope an investigation will be carried out, because if there is any specific evidence of this, I would feel a great deal of shame for my country.”
In an interview with Pio Desportes, Yordano Ventura’s grandfather Raúl, said the family wanted clarification from the national police as to what happened.
According to Rustin Dodd and Maria Torres at the Kansas City Star, Ventura crashed his vehicle after departing from Patronales 2017, an annual festival honoring Our Lady of Altagracia, the patron saint of the Dominican Republic. He lost control of his vehicle in the town of Juan Adrian, destroying a guard rail. The speed limit was just 15 mph in a mountainous area.
“It’s an open road,” Mateo Moquete said in a phone interview. “It’s in excellent shape. But it does take you through a mountainous area, so you have to drive with caution.”
Foggy conditions are believed to have been a factor. Dominican officials reported no signs of alcohol at the scene of the crash, although toxicology reports will provide more conclusive evidence.