ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras had a blood-alcohol content of .287 when he crashed his car into a tree on Oct. 26, according to an Associated Press report citing Tessie Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office in the Dominican Republic. The legal limit in the Dominican Republic is .05.Taveras, 22, and his girlfriend, 18-year-old Edilia Arvelo, died in the one-car accident.
"We have seen the media reports regarding Oscar Taveras that have come out this afternoon, but have yet to receive any official notification from the Dominican," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said on Wednesday night in a statement. 
"Until we have the opportunity to review the official report, we cannot confirm details. While we are still working to obtain the facts, it won't change the fact that this is a terrible tragedy. We have an obligation to use this as an opportunity to educate our players that they must take responsibility for themselves both on and off the field."The Cardinals had previously indicated that speed and wet road conditions played a role in the crash on the Sosua-Cabarete highway in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Taveras, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro, lost control of the vehicle at 7:40 p.m. ET, according to official reports released the day after the crash, and he later died of his injuries at the Cabarete Medical Center.Taveras had returned to his native Dominican Republic about a week before the accident and was scheduled to remain there for just another week before reporting to Jupiter, Fla., where he was to work through an offseason conditioning program with the Cardinals' staff.Taveras was coming off a rookie season in which he hit .239 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 80 games. Taveras homered in his Major League debut and also helped lift the Cardinals to a Game 2 win in the National League Championship Series with a pinch-hit home run. He drew a curtain call after that homer, which came in his final at-bat at Busch Stadium.Taveras' funeral was held in the Dominican Republic two days after his death, with an estimated 5,000 people lining the streets as the casket was transported to the burial site.
Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com
"Until we have the opportunity to review the official report, we cannot confirm details. While we are still working to obtain the facts, it won't change the fact that this is a terrible tragedy. We have an obligation to use this as an opportunity to educate our players that they must take responsibility for themselves both on and off the field."The Cardinals had previously indicated that speed and wet road conditions played a role in the crash on the Sosua-Cabarete highway in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Taveras, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro, lost control of the vehicle at 7:40 p.m. ET, according to official reports released the day after the crash, and he later died of his injuries at the Cabarete Medical Center.Taveras had returned to his native Dominican Republic about a week before the accident and was scheduled to remain there for just another week before reporting to Jupiter, Fla., where he was to work through an offseason conditioning program with the Cardinals' staff.Taveras was coming off a rookie season in which he hit .239 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 80 games. Taveras homered in his Major League debut and also helped lift the Cardinals to a Game 2 win in the National League Championship Series with a pinch-hit home run. He drew a curtain call after that homer, which came in his final at-bat at Busch Stadium.Taveras' funeral was held in the Dominican Republic two days after his death, with an estimated 5,000 people lining the streets as the casket was transported to the burial site.
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