Oneil Cruz, a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is once again under the media spotlight after the publication of a ProPublica report that states that representatives of the player’s family managed economic agreements with the families of Yohan Saba Mercado, Deby Beato Charles, and Daniela Pérez García, victims of the 2020 accident on the Sánchez highway, Dominican Republic.
Origin of the incident
The incident occurred on the night of September 21, 2020, when Cruz was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and collided with a motorcycle on which the three young people, aged between 19 and 20, were traveling, who lost their lives. The player’s lawyers, Amauris Vásquez Disla, claim that Cruz called 911 and stated that the motorcycle did not have lights.
Economic agreements and their scope
- Daniela Pérez García’s family received a payment of 900,000 Dominican pesos (≈15,000 RD$).
- The brother of Deby Beato Charles agreed with Cruz around 2,000,000 RD$ (≈34,000 RD$).
- Yohan Saba Mercado’s parents obtained around 800,000 RD$ after fees.
- Together, the agreements amounted to approximately $66,000 USD.
The agreement documents included clauses for the families to withdraw penal, civil, or judicial claims against the player. The process was closed through a binding decision of the court, according to the defense. Cruz did not grant an interview to ProPublica to answer the new allegations.
Legal and sports repercussions
After the accident, the Public Ministry reported that Cruz would have consumed alcohol, a statement that was not upheld in court. In August 2021, while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliate, Cruz participated virtually in a hearing that evaluated his preventive custody. A month later, he made his debut in the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates. By 2026, it is projected that the player will receive a contract of $3.3 million.
Context and consequences
The case highlights the importance of compensation procedures following traffic accidents, as well as the responsibility of institutions and families involved in seeking a fair compensation. For the Dominican community, the story also generates debate about the influence of athletes in the country and the need to establish transparent and responsible mechanisms for managing economic agreements related to incidents of this type.
Credits: diarioaldia.com
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