Report: Taveras drunk at time of crash

Nov 13, 2014 - 2:04 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - St. Louis Cardinals rookie Oscar Taveras had a blood- alcohol level five times the legal limit when he lost control of his car in a fatal crash last month, according to a report.

The Cardinals said in a statement Wednesday evening they were aware of the news report but had not received any official notification from the Dominican Republic and wouldn't be able to confirm details of the crash until they can review the official report.

An official in the Dominican Republic told The Associated Press toxicology reports showed Taveras was "legally intoxicated" when his car ran off the road Oct. 26 on a highway between Cabarete and Sosua in Puerto Plata.

The 22-year-old Dominican outfielder and his 18-year-old girlfriend both died in the crash, which sent the baseball world into mourning during the World Series over the loss of the promising prospect.

"While we are still working to obtain the facts, it won't change the fact that this is a terrible tragedy," the Cardinals said in their statement. "We have an obligation to use this as an opportunity to educate our players that they must take responsibility for themselves both on and off the field."

It was the third time since 2002 the Cardinals have dealt with the death of a player.

Starting pitcher Darryl Kile died in his sleep of a blocked coronary artery before a game in Chicago in June 2002, and reliever Josh Hancock was killed in an alcohol-related car crash in April 2007.