Former major league baseball pitcher Éric Gagné, who was charged with dangerous impaired driving and hit and run, pleaded guilty to one count and received an absolute discharge Wednesday at the Laval courthouse. .
Posted at 12:32 p.m.
According to the facts presented in court, Gagné was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he drove erratically and crashed into four vehicles on Highway 640 in Terrebonne on July 31 2020.
It is rather the effects of a concussion that would have caused the series of accidents, according to the conclusions of a psychiatric evaluation of Dr Pierre Gagne.
The 46-year-old former Los Angeles Dodgers reliever pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving. He was acquitted of the other charges against him.
The unconditional discharge which was pronounced by Judge Marc-André Dagenais was a joint proposal by the defense lawyers, Mr.e Jean-Daniel Debkoski, and crown, Me Jean-Sebastien Bigras.
No injuries
The winner of a Cy-Young trophy was obviously delighted with this absolution, which spares him from having a criminal record.
“I was really lucky that there were no injuries. That’s the most important thing for me, ”commented the athlete as he left the courtroom.
Now established in the United States, where he is awaiting his American citizenship, the former baseball player is the father of four children who live in Quebec. He visits them regularly.
On July 31, 2020, he was traveling at high speed on Highway 640 East near Terrebonne, in a rented Hyundai Santa Fe. He then crashed into two vehicles as he zigzagged between lanes and did not stop. On the ramp for Highway 40, he hit another vehicle and continued on his way.
Then, losing control of his SUV, he crossed the median to find himself in a position perpendicular to traffic on Highway 40, where he was hit by a car.
Disorganization
After this last collision, Éric Gagné got out of his vehicle, ran into the median, shouting incoherent remarks, tried to hide and was agitated.
“In the ambulance, the police observed signs of disorganization,” says Ms.e Bigras. “Mr. Gagné is unable to stop moving, constantly complains of pain, he has abnormal sweating and makes incomprehensible remarks. »
The athlete will be hospitalized for two days and would have no memory of the events.
No alcohol was detected in his blood, but traces of cannabis were detected.
The evaluation of Dr Gagné, who concludes that it was a concussion that triggered Éric Gagné’s erratic behavior, however, did not determine what was the cause of this concussion. The former baseball player has suffered several during his career.
“Mr. Gagné was extremely tired because he had flown the day before to come see his children. He had slept only two or three hours, underlined Me Debkoski. This is where he showed dangerous driving: he took the wheel knowing that he was in a very tired condition. »
Because of his guilty plea on this count, he will be prohibited from driving in Canada for the next 18 months.
In 2010, the baseball player admitted to using growth hormones during his career. The same year, he retired, at the age of 34.
The Quebec athlete began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played for the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.