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January 2, 2008

Leyritz's license was suspended a month before fatal crash

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Former World Series star Jim Leyritz had a suspended license before he was charged with driving under the influence and killing a woman last week in Florida.

New York state suspended the Florida license a month before the crash, but the license is still valid in Florida. However, that may be only a technicality because the New York suspension had not yet been entered in the national registry as of Wednesday.

Leyritz was ticketed outside Albany, N.Y., for using a cell phone while driving June 20, and his license was suspended Nov. 23 for failing to answer the summons, according to motor vehicle records.

"He has a suspension on his record. It's current as of today," Ken Brown, spokesman for the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, said Wednesday.

The 44-year-old ex-catcher was charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage, police said. His 2006 Ford Expedition crashed at an intersection Friday, hitting the car of Fredia Ann Veitch. The 30-year-old woman from Plantation, was ejected from her 2000 Mitsubishi Montero and died at Broward General Medical Center.

"Currently, his license is still fine in Florida," said Ann Nucatola, a spokeswoman for Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "If and when it hits the system, yes, we would back up the state that suspended him."

He could face additional charges once the suspension is put into the system Florida uses, police said.

Leyritz's attorney, Jeffrey Ostrow, said he had "no knowledge of his license being suspended in the state of Florida or in New York or otherwise." Leyritz, of Davie, has posted an $11,000 bond, police said.

He played for six major league teams, starred in the 1996 World Series and was last in the majors in 2000. He played 52 games for the Red Sox in the 1998 season before being traded to San Diego.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:04 PM | Permalink

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