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It may sound cool in your favorite rebellious pop song, but drinking and driving is an ultimate no-no. After it was discovered that St. Louis Cardinals superstar-in-the-making Oscar Tavares killed himself and his girlfriend because he was legally drunk, he went from being a tragic hero to a complete statistic.

Here are several other professional athletes killed in drunk driving car accidents to remind you that money doesn’t make you invincible. Especially since a few of them we’re even responsible.


Photo: MLB

Photo: ABC

Jerry Brown

Dallas Cowboys DT Josh Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter for killing his best friend and longtime teammate on December 8, 2012.

Photo: KMOV-TV

Josh Hancock

On April 29, 2007, Hancock died in a car accident with a blood-alcohol level of 0.157, nearly double the legal limit in Missouri.

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Tim Horton

The name behind your favorite morning coffee killed himself in 1974 with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit in Ontario.

Photo: NBA TV

Malik Sealy

The talented NBAer (and budding actor) was killed by a drunk driver on May 20, 2000 after leaving his teammate Kevin Garnett’s birthday party in Minnesota.

Photo: Cameron Cramer

Nick Adenhart

Hours after pitching a no-decision for the Angels on April 9, 2009, Adenhart died in an accident with a drunk driver who had a suspended license.

Photo: Nashville 5

Rob Bironas

Bironas actually got himself killed this year on September 20 when he smacked into a tree with a blood alcohol level almost 3 times the legal limit in Tennessee. He had only been married to Terry Bradshaw’s daughter for about 3 months.

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Terrence Kiel

The former Charger safety was legally drunk during his fatal 4th of July crash in 2008.

Photo: ESPN Classic

Steve Prefontaine

The 1972 Olympian broke his routine on May 29, 1975 and drove a from a party drunk. It was his final ride.

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Jack Shea

The 92-year-old gold medalist’s old age was cut short by drunk driver in 2002.

Photo: Sports Page

Steve Chiasson

With a blood alcohol content over three times the legal limit allowed in North Carolina, the NHL defenceman was killed in a single-car crash on May 3, 1999.

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Mike Darr

The San Diego Padres outfielder killed himself and his friend in a drunken accident on February 15, 2002.

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Diego Corrales

The ex WBC, WBO, & The Ring lightweight, WBO & IBF super featherweight champion was speeding on his motorcycle when he crashed on May 7, 2007. He had a blood alcohol level 3 times the legal limit permitted in Nevada.

Jimmy Davis

The former Manchester United standout died while speeding with 2 times the legal limit of alcohol in his system in England on August 9, 2003.

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Stacey Toran

The ex-Los Angeles Raider DB died with 3 times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood on August 5, 1989. His friends who had seen him before said he didn’t “seem” drunk.

Photo: Greatest Boxer

John Tate

It is said the former WBA World Heavyweight champion had been using cocaine all day when he had a stroke before his fatal crash on April 9, 1998 in Knoxville.

Darren Millane

The Australian rules football player reportedly had six-and-a-half times the legal driving limit when he crashed and died on October 7, 1991.

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Dante Stallworth*

Although the veteran NFL wide receiver is still alive*, the pedestrian he killed on March 14, 2009 (while blowing a blood alcohol level of 0.12) is not.

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