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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:51 a.m., Saturday, April 11, 2009

Adenhart crash survivor off critical list

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A passenger injured in the car crash that killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two friends was taken off the critical list today, a hospital spokesman said.

Jon Wilhite was upgraded from critical to serious condition but remained in intensive care at UC Irvine Medical Center, hospital spokesman John Murray said. Hospital guidelines call for an upgrade when a patient's vital signs have stabilized, he added.

The family requested no additional details be released, Murray said.

Wilhite, 24, of Manhattan Beach, played baseball from 2004-08 at California State University, Fullerton.

Police said he was riding in a Mitsubishi Eclipse along with Adenhart and two friends when a minivan ran a red light and broadsided the car at around 12:30 a.m. in neighboring Fullerton.

Adenhart, 22, died in surgery only hours after he made his season debut by pitching six scoreless innings. The Angels held a moment of silence for Adenhart at Friday night's game at Angel Stadium.

Also killed were the driver of the Eclipse, 20-year-old Courtney Stewart of Diamond Bar, and passenger Henry Pearson, 25, of Manhattan Beach.

The minivan driver, Andrew Gallo, 22, of San Gabriel, was charged Friday with three counts of murder.

Police said Gallo, who was on probation after pleading guilty to drunk driving in 2006, had nearly triple the legal blood-alcohol level.

He could face about 55 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.