Rays/MLB

Two on Yankees staff killed in car accident

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 21, 2006

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Yankees minor-league manager Oscar Acosta and team official Humberto Trejo were killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

Acosta, manager of the Gulf Coast Yankees in Tampa of the Rookie League, and Trejo, the Yankees' field coordinator in the Dominican Republic, were killed after their car collided with an SUV on a highway outside of Santo Domingo on Wednesday night, said Carlos Rio, Yankees director of operations in Latin America.

"They were both fine men and great Yankees," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement Thursday.

Acosta, 49, was the pitching coach at Triple-A Columbus from 1996-98 and at the major-league level with the Cubs and Rangers. He was in his third year as manager of the Gulf Coast team, which he led to league championships the past two seasons.

Trejo, 38, was in his 16th season working for the Yankees, serving in a number of capacities, including manager, coach and coordinator of the team's Latin America player-development program.

Acosta is survived by wife, Kathy, daughters Melissa and Amanda and son Ryan. Trejo is survived by wife Beatriz Sanchez and daughters Geralin and Jessica.

[Last modified April 21, 2006, 01:43:05]