Suspect is in custody in fatal Adenhart crash

Police may request second-degree murder charges against an Inland man arrested Thursday morning in connection with the traffic crash that killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart.

Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22 of Fullerton, Calif., was driving a red minivan that may have run a red light and broadsided a silver Mitsubishi sedan carrying Adenhart, two other people who were also killed and a fourth person who was injured. The impact spun both vehicles and one hit a Honda.

Adenhart, 22, was taken to UCI Medical Center where he died in surgery, the release stated.

Gallo ran away from the scene and was arrested a half-hour later by Anaheim police, stated a Fullerton Police Department news release. He was being treated at UCI Medical Center for injuries and arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, felony hit and run and vehicular manslaughter, the release stated.

Gallo's license remained suspended from a prior drunken driving conviction, said spokeswoman Sylvia Palmer Murdick.

In San Bernardino County, a man with the same name, Andrew Thomas Gallo, and same age, 22, pleaded guilty to a driving under the influence charge in May of 2006, court records show.

The same 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo also plead guilty to possessing less than one ounce of marijuana in 2007 and entered a guilty plea to failure to wear a seat belt in 2006 court records show.

The marijuana charge came during the probationary period for the driving under the influence case. After Gallo's guilty plea he was ordered to continue in the county-approved alcohol program, court records show.

Because of the previous conviction, authorities can pursue second-degree murder charges against Gallo. But that decision is made by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Spokeswoman Farrah Emami said once the case is presented to the office they will determine which if any charges are appropriate.

Authorities pronounced a 20-year-old woman and 27-year-old man dead at the scene. A 24-year-old man also in the Mitsubishi was listed in critical condition at the UCI Medical Center, the release stated. Later reports have identified the woman as Courtney Frances Stewart of Diamond Bar, Calif., who apparently was driving the Mitsubishi.

A woman who answered the phone Thursday morning on Harding Street in Riverside, an address listed for Andrew Thomas Gallo, said she was a relative, speaking on behalf of Gallo's parents.