An East County family is dealing with a tragic death and serious injury after a deadly head-on crash allegedly caused by a former high school baseball star drafted by a major league team.
The Reid family is mourning the loss of a husband and father, while caring for the victim’s son in a hospital.
17-year-old Garrett Reid is in stable condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital after undergoing surgery. Family friends say he is physically doing ok. But emotionally, he’s trying to deal with the loss of his father -- 50-year-old David Reid.
“David was funny, David was giving,” Steele Canyon Assistant Principal Jeff Kover said. “One of the ways you know someone is a good father, you look at their kids and see. And you are talking about two amazing young people. Very confident. Very sure of where they want to go in their future.”
The Reids are a tight-knit family. 17-year-old Garrett is involved in his school's drama club -- a place where his father volunteered much of his time.
Now Mrs. Reid is taking care of her son and mourning the loss of her husband.
“She's tough she's a strong woman she's holding up pretty well. I think when we leave here we'll all have to be there for her cause that's going to be really hard,” family friend Jamie Luke said. “We are praying for all of them, it just breaks our heart.”
Local
Andrew Bellatti, 18, was going 80 miles-per-hour on Campo Road near Steele Canyon High School Friday afternoon when he illegally crossed the double yellow line to pass another car and headed straight into oncoming traffic, according to the CHP.
The red Ford Mustang he was driving slammed into a Dodge Caravan, seriously injuring 17-year-old Steele Canyon student Garrett Reid and killing his father, David Reid, who was driving.
"The first vehicle swerved out of the way that was traveling eastbound, the second vehicle collided head on with the Mustang," CHP officer Brian Pennings said. “The speedometer was frozen at impact, it was frozen at 80 miles an hour.”
Bellatti suffered serious injuries in the crash.
He was a star pitcher at Steele Canyon High School and graduated in 2009. Upon graduation he chose to enter the major league draft instead of taking a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, according to MaxPreps.com. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Bellatti in the 12th round with the 379th overall pick.
A 16-year-old girl who was riding in his car was also badly hurt. Fellow students said she is Bellatti's girlfriend and a student at Steele Canyon who plays on the girls' basketball team.
"We heard the news at halftime, it shook our heads up, all we could think about was her," Olivia Richardson said.
Faculty at the high school said it's a dangerous stretch of road.
"Only a few years ago a student was killed just down the road, we can't emphasize how important it is to drive safely especially in bad weather.” Assistant Principal Jeff Kover said.
Officers said Bellatti could face criminal charges. The crash is still under investigation.
Grief Counselors will be available to students at Steel Canyon High School on Monday.
A memorial for David Reid will be held on the school's campus next Sunday and a scholarship fund has been established in his name.
