The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras was intoxicated at the time of his fatal car crash in his native Dominican Republic on October 26. A spokesperson for the Dominican Republic’s Attorney General’s Office told the Associated Press that toxicology reports showed Taveras had a blood-alcohol level five times the legal limit when he lost control of his 2014 Chevy Camero and crashed into a tree just off a highway in the tourist region of Puerto Plata, killing himself and his 18-year-old girlfriend Edilia Arvelo.  That spokesperson, Tessie Sanchez, said that Taveras was “legally intoxicated when he crashed.”

St. Louis Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak issued the following statement Wednesday night in response to the AP report that Taveras was drunk at the time of the accident:

“We have seen the media reports regarding Oscar Taveras that have come out this afternoon, but have yet to receive any official notification from the Dominican.  Until we have the opportunity to review the official report, we cannot confirm details.  While we are still working to obtain the facts, it won’t change the fact that this is a terrible tragedy.  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.”

Taveras made his much anticipated major league debut for the Cardinals on May 31, hitting his first big league home run on that day, and played in 80 regular season games, hitting .239 with three home runs. After being benched in the postseason in favor of Randal Grichuk, Taveras hit a clutch pinch-hit game-tying home run in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Giants. Oscar Taveras was just 22 years old.

Chris Brown, St. Louis Baseball Today 

Read more: STLToday.com, STLBaseballWeekly.com