Former No. 1 Overall MLB Draft Pick Matt Bush Arrested for DWI After Multi-Car Crash in Texas Matt Bush, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft, was arrested in Arlington, Texas, on Friday night on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) after being involved in a serious multi-car accident.
The 38-year-old, who was selected first overall by the San Diego Padres, allegedly caused a chain of collisions after driving erratically through the city.
According to reports from FOX 4, Arlington police observed Bush driving his 2023 Lincoln Aviator in a reckless manner along Pioneer Parkway. Officers attempted to pull him over, but Bush reportedly accelerated away, disregarding the police’s efforts to stop him. His attempt to flee came to a halt when he allegedly ran a red light and crashed into one vehicle, causing a series of collisions with two other cars.
After the crash, Bush reportedly tried to flee the scene on foot but was quickly apprehended by nearby bystanders who held him until the police arrived. Both Bush and the driver of the first car he hit were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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At the scene, Bush refused to undergo a roadside sobriety test, leading authorities to take a blood sample to determine his blood alcohol level.
The former MLB player was subsequently booked into Arlington City Jail, where he faces charges including one count of DWI, one count of an accident involving injury, and one count of evading arrest.
This arrest marks a significant legal setback for Bush, as it could classify him as a repeat offender if found guilty. The 38-year-old has a history of legal troubles related to driving under the influence. In 2012, Bush was sentenced to 51 months in prison for injuring a motorcyclist while driving drunk, a conviction that cost him his position with the Tampa Bay Rays.
He served 39 months in prison before signing with the Texas Rangers in 2015, where he later made his MLB debut as a relief pitcher in 2016.
Bush’s MLB career spans six seasons, during which he appeared in 217 games, most notably with the Texas Rangers. He posted a career 3.75 ERA over 211 innings as a reliever. In 2023, Bush struggled on the mound, going 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers before being released by the team.
Initially drafted as a shortstop, Bush was converted into a pitcher by the Padres after struggling to hit in the minor leagues. His career has been marked by both flashes of potential on the mound and repeated off-field issues, with his latest arrest casting further doubt on his future prospects.
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