Celebrity Justice
Ex-Yank Popped for Alleged Vehicular Homicide

TMZ has confirmed that Jim Leyritz, a member of the New York Yankees championship teams in the 1990s, is being held at Broward County Jail in Florida, after being arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and causing the death of a woman driving the other car in a collision.
Jim Leyritz
According to police documents, Leyritz was driving a Ford SUV when he ran a red light in downtown Fort Lauderdale and crashed into another vehicle early this morning; the other car rolled, and the driver, 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch was thrown from the car and died later at Broward General Medical Center. Leyritz was observed to have "red watery eyes, flushed face, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage" on his breath -- and he initially refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Leyritz was booked at 4:30 AM on two charges of DUI and was released this afternoon on $11,000 bond. Yesterday, incidentally, was Leyritz's 44th birthday. Local10.com of WPLG-TV first reported the charges.

Leyritz is best remembered for the dramatic three-run home run he hit against the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series.

WPLG captured exclusive video of Leyritz leaving the jail at around 3:30 PM ET. In the video, he is visibly shaken as he gets into his car and clearly holding back tears.
Click to play!

Tags: Jim Leyritz, JimLeyritz

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. Hey FELLAS....
The dude was drunk, driving a vehicle, hit another one, killed the lady. He wasn't on the ball field pitching wild. STOP DRIVING DRUNK......................that is what matters here, and the death of an innocent woman. I am sure her family could give a care about anything else.

Posted at 3:42PM on Dec 28th 2007 by addicted to trash magazines

32. OK AND U TELL ME NOW JIZY WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WIT HIM BEING A YANKEE?? AND IM SURE MAYS DIDNT THROW AT HEADS CAUSE HE WAS A YANKEE EITHER. UR USING THINGS THAT HAPPEND TO BASH THE YANKEES WHEN THE YANKEES HAVE NUTTIN TO DO WIT THE WAY A GUY IS OFF THE FIELD OR BETTER YET THEY HAVE NUTTIN TO DO WIT THE WAY A GUY IS 10 YEARS LATER. THATS JUST WRONG. AND HOW BOUT THIS FOR FACTS YOUR AN IDIOT AND YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO THEN BASH ON THE YANKEES WHEN A LADY JUST LOST HER LIFE TO YET ANOTHER DRUNK DRIVER. HOW BOUT THAT FOR 2 PEAS IN A POD

Posted at 3:44PM on Dec 28th 2007 by JAY

33. Calling posters names is not very mature Jay, I was pointing out the mentality the Stankees organization installs into it’s players, you know, the human life doesn’t mean much mentality. That’s a New Yorker for ya.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Steinbrenner or one of his offshoot splinter covert factions donates to his defense fund when this piece of crap deserves life in prison for murder but since he’s a Stankee he’ll get out in two years max.

Posted at 3:55PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Jizy

34. give him the max. if it was me i would get the max.

Posted at 4:12PM on Dec 28th 2007 by BIG JOE FROM NEW YORK

35. Umm Jitz

Jimmy Leyritz also played with the Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers and Padres ... using your logic maybe one of THEM screwed him up you're an ass -

The man is RETIRED and has been for several years who he played for has no bearing on what he did.

Posted at 4:21PM on Dec 28th 2007 by NY Sweetie

36. Sport fans are the lowest level of human. Unfortunately, they happen to be the majority. Just reading over these posts that involve a DEAD LADY and the sport-crap that these commenters are bogged down in makes me sick. Imagine a stadium full of the above commenters emboldened by their collective force. Eeeeek. That's America I guess.

Posted at 4:40PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Sports Anti-Fan

37. Maybe this idiot should hire Brandy's lawyer, That way he won't have to go to jail and he can wear the 'victim' label for a while.

Posted at 4:43PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Yucko

38. I agree TMZ et al love drunks but see a celeb with a cig and you won't hear the end of it. What awful person would have such a dirty smelly habit--but drink up==no problem. As Bill Murray said to the waitress in the movie Kingpin "keep em coming, I got a long drive"

Posted at 5:48PM on Dec 28th 2007 by mark

39. all he needs is some magnet hair and a magnet beard.

Posted at 6:49PM on Dec 28th 2007 by equal opportunity offender

40. PROBABLY WONT DO ONE DAY IN JAIL...THIS IS STILL AMERICA

Posted at 6:11PM on Dec 28th 2007 by LATINA LOVER and loving it

41. Holly,,,,,is he allow in an airport???

Posted at 7:25PM on Dec 28th 2007 by RoughDaddy

42. WTF!!! JIZY THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD EVEN SAY SOME STUPID CRAP LIKE THAT IS BEYOND SENCELESS!!!! SOMEONE DIED!!! THAT COULD HAVE BEEN UR MOM!!! MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY'S AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY!=..(

Posted at 9:03PM on Dec 28th 2007 by TawnyFoxx

43. At least it wasn't a former member of the Boston Red Sox!

See what happens to juicers? That whole era of 'mystique and aura' needs a great big asterisk right next to it in the record books.

STAY OFF THE JUICE YANKEES! TURN TO JESUS INSTEAD!


Posted at 11:32PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Vinny

44. Leyritz always hit me as a good guy. And the thing about drunk driving, and all the tragedy that can result from it, is it's often caused by otherwise good, law-abiding people. Your neighbors, your brothers, sisters, cousins...someone you know has or does drive drunk. Speaking your mind over the 'net about this kind of stuff is all good, but don't forget to do the same with your friends and family. People are going to party this weekend...stories like this should make anyone think twice. Dying or being injured is not the only way your life could be changed forever because of a bad decision and lack of judgment.

Posted at 12:45AM on Dec 29th 2007 by IIIIIII

45. I don't know whether you have watched his recent video? If you have, you will understand why so many people scold him at sugarlandy.blogspot....

Posted at 1:31AM on Dec 29th 2007 by louise56563

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments