New details regarding a crash involving Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz that killed three people in the Dominican Republic have emerged.
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According to ProPublica, Cruz allegedly hired a fixer to pay the victims' families $66,000 to prevent them from bringing a court case against him.
Cruz, 27, is accused of driving an SUV that crashed into a motorcycle, killing three young adults in Baní, Dominican Republic, according to ESPN.
The incident occurred on Sept. 21, 2020, roughly a year before Cruz was promoted to the Majors. The victims were identified as 19-year-old Daniela Pérez García, 20-year-old Deby Beato and 23-year-old Jons Sabab, according to a press release.
Pirates Star Accused of Driving SUV During Fatal Car Crash
An investigation found that Cruz "had consumed alcoholic beverages prior to the accident." The car crash allegedly occurred during a curfew established by authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the time, per the release.
Cruz's lawyer, Amauris Vásquez Disla, told ProPublica that the incident was "a profound tragedy for all parties involved. Especially the victims' families."
Disla added that the court "issued an order of dismissal based on the findings, a legally binding decision that was a lawful resolution of this matter."
The Pirates also told the outlet in a statement that the team and Cruz "addressed this matter more than six years ago based on the information available and the outcome of the legal proceedings."
According to the ProPublica report, Cruz hired Santo Caraballo to help make the case disappear.
During his third court appearance, Cruz's case was dismissed. Per ProPublica, this was largely because the victims' families did not attend the trial.
Cruz allegedly paid the victims' families a total of roughly $66,000. The MLB star has not commented publicly on the incident.
Cruz is in the midst of his sixth season with the Pirates. Through 464 games, Cruz has 78 home runs and 261 RBIs. Last week, the Pirates star recorded his 100th career stolen base.
Cruz made his MLB debut 33 days after the case was dismissed, according to Sports Illustrated. He eventually became a full-time center fielder with the team in 2024. He began his career at shortstop.
Cruz competed in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby at Truist Park. During the All-Star Week event, Cruz launched a 513-foot moonshot. It was the longest homer of the event.
In January, Cruz signed a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Pirates.
