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Former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident and crashing into two vehicles with a child in the car.

According to authorities, the former Major League Baseball star was also charged with child endangerment and other motor vehicle violations at the time of his arrest after causing an accident Tuesday (March 23) morning.

Gooden, 45, was released on his own recognizance until a municipal court hearing.

Gooden, who has publicly battled with alcohol and drugs, including cocaine, had an attorney.

Gooden, nicknamed Doc Gooden and Dr. K because of his impeccable strikeout numbers early in his career, helped lead the Mets to a World Series title in 1986 and another National League East crown in ’88, and he also was a member of the championship Yankees teams of 1996 and 2000.

Eventually he served as a senior vice president with the minor league Newark Bears baseball team, which plays in the Atlantic League before leaving in November 2009.

“He did great things while he was here,” said Tom Cetnar, the Bears’ senior vice president. “We’re very saddened by the reports we’re hearing. We don’t have any details on what happened. Doc did right by us and the city of Newark.”

Although being regarded as one of the best pitchers in the MLB, Gooden suffered off the field with a public battle with drugs and alcohol. Over the past decade Gooden has been arrested multiple times for drug related offenses as well as completed several stints in rehab.