(KNSI) — The sister of former Minnesota Twin Nelson Cruz, plus two other Major League Baseball players, died following a roof collapse in the Dominican Republic Tuesday.
Nelsy Cruz, who is also the governor of Monti Cristi province, was at the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo to see famed merengue singer Rubby Perez. About an hour into the show, the roof came crashing down on concertgoers. Cruz was one of the first people to notify authorities about what happened, calling the country’s President, Luis Abinader, to tell him about the collapse. She was seriously injured and pulled from the rubble but died later at a hospital.
Former World Series champion pitcher Octavio Dotel was also among the dead. The 51-year-old Dotel, a native of Santo Domingo, was also rescued but died on the way to the hospital. He earned his World Series ring in 2011 while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. During his 15 year Major League Baseball career, he pitched for 13 teams, the second most of any player in MLB history.
Major leaguer Tony Blanco, who played first and third base and was an outfielder, was also killed. Blanco started in the Boston Red Sox’s farm system before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He finished with the Washington Nationals in 2005. He was 43.
Perez was among the dead, as was the band’s saxophone player.
Dozens of people have died, and dozens more were injured. Authorities are still trying to determine what led up to the collapse.
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