LA's Rodriguez involved in fatal car crash

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Dodgers farmhand Orlando Rodriguez was involved in an auto accident Thursday night in which the driver of another vehicle was killed.

Rodriguez, a 25-year-old left-handed pitcher, was driving southbound on rain-slickened Interstate 95, heading to Miami for a flight to Arizona, where his wife was about to deliver their child.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol media release, the accident occurred at 6:50 p.m. ET about halfway between Vero Beach and West Palm Beach in Martin County.

Rodriguez's 2001 Ford pickup truck changed from the center lane to the left lane to pass a vehicle and lost control on the wet road, crossed the center grass median and slid into the northbound lanes, striking on the driver's side a 1994 Toyota driven by 51-year-old Bruce Hermesch of North Palm Beach. Hermesch's vehicle flipped and landed on its roof, with both cars coming to rest on the east shoulder of the road. Hermesch was killed.

Rodriguez was taken to Martin Memorial South Hospital with injuries that were initially described as serious, but was released a short time later and the club said he was not seriously injured. Rodriguez was not charged or cited, but the crash is under investigation.

Rodriguez was acquired in 2001 from the Chicago White Sox in the Antonio Osuna trade and came to Major League camp in 2003, but underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2004 season. Last year, his rehab took him to four Dodgers Minor League cities, including Triple-A Las Vegas.

Navarro's recovery: Dioner Navarro might start the season on time after all.

He's been insisting his strained hamstring is healing quickly. Manager Grady Little, initially skeptical, said Friday night Navarro might be ready for exhibition games by Monday and if he can play a week's worth of those without a setback, he'll be active on Opening Day. That would send Russell Martin to Triple-A.

"If he's ready to play, it'll be good," said Little. "He ran full speed today for a long, extended time and came out of it in good condition."

Whether it's Navarro or Martin, the Opening Day catcher could be Sandy Alomar Jr., who started Friday night when Little used what might be his Opening Day lineup. It had J.D. Drew batting third, Nomar Garciaparra fifth, Jose Cruz Jr. seventh (he hit a homer) and Alomar eighth.