A former local high school baseball star, who was drafted last year, was speeding and making an illegal maneuver when he slammed head-on into another car, CHP officials said. One man died and two other teenagers were seriously hurt in the crash.
Andrew Bellatti, 18, was going 80 miles-per-hour on Campo Road near Steele Canyon High School around 4:20 p.m. 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 a 17-year-old Steele Canyon student and killing his father, 50-year-old 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.”
Reid's son has surgery Saturday and is in stable condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Outside the hospital family friend Jamie Luke said, "We are praying for them, all of them. It just breaks our heart."
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.
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Grief counselors will be available at Steele Canyon High School starting Monday.
A memorial for David Reid will be held on Sunday , January 31 at 2 p.m. on campus.
Kover said Reid was very involved in the school's drama club, where he often volunteered for his kids' drama productions .
A scholarship has been set up in Reid's name.
