Former MLB Star Reaches Settlement in DUI Case
Jim Leyritz is accused of DUI manslaughter from a 2007 car crash
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 8:52 AM EDT, Tue, May 25, 2010
A former World Series hero has reached a settlement in a wrongful death civil case with the family of a Broward woman killed in a deadly crash.
Jim Leyritz has agreed to pay $350,000 to the Veitch family for the 2007 death of Fredia Ann Veitch, a Fort Lauderdale bartender who died after Leyritz allegedly ran a red light and crashed into her car.
Both Veitch and Leyritz were over the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels. Leyritz is facing DUI manslaughter charges.
"It’s the first step in closure for my kids and myself. It’s been two and a half years of torment," said Jordan Veitch, the woman's husband.
According to the settlement, Leyritz's insurance company will pay $250,000 and the former baseball player will pay the Veitch family $1,000 every month for the next 100 months. Leyritz's MLB pension has not agreed to secure any payments, so the former yankee will handle his portion out of pocket.
During his 10-year career, Leyritz played for the Yankees, Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. His hallmark moment came in 1996, when he hit a 3-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in game 4 of the World Series.
With the civil case now behind him, Leyritz's focus shifts to the criminal trial on July 12, where he could face as much as ten years behind bars if convicted.
Prosecutors allege Leyritz was celebrating his 44th birthday with friends on Fort Lauderdale beach when he decided to hop in his SUV around 3 a.m. Around the same time, Veitch was leaving her shift at a bar and headed home.
Leyritz's blood-alcohol content was 0.14 and 0.13 when tested about three and four hours after the crash. Veitch had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18, authorities said. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
Jordan Veitch said he still has nightmares about that night and that he is "resentful" toward Leyritz. The couple had a son, who still wakes up with nightmares of his mother, Jordan Veitch said.
"I’m angry I have to go through all of this. I don’t have much to say to him," he said. "I understand people make mistakes, but people have to pay for their mistakes."
First Published: May 24, 2010 2:50 PM EDT
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