Former Texas Rangers hurler Matt Bush has been arrested for allegedly fleeing from Texas police and then attempting to run from the scene of a multi-vehicle crash only to be chased down by bystanders.
Bush, 38, was behind the wheel of his 2023 Lincoln Aviator along Pioneer Parkway at around 8:30 p.m. Friday when an Arlington police officer noticed he was driving erratically and tried to pull him over, records show.
The former right-handed pitcher, however, sped away from and evaded police, prompting law enforcement to put out a “Be On the Lookout” report for the vehicle.
Arlington Police then received a report of a multi-vehicle accident at a nearby intersection and arrived on the scene to find the same Lincoln Aviator that fled from officers minutes earlier.
Police said Bush ran a red light at the intersection, hit a 2023 Chevy Silverado, and then crashed into a 2010 GMC Yukon and a 2008 Toyota Corolla.
The former pitcher then “fled from that crash on foot without identifying himself or exchanging any information” but was stopped by a group of bystanders who chased him down and held him for authorities.
The 41-year-old driver of the Silverado and Bush were then both taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police. The drivers of the Yukon and Corolla were not injured.
While at the hospital, police suspected Bush might be intoxicated.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick declined a field sobriety test and refused to speak with investigators about the crash.
Investigators then obtained a warrant for a blood sample and sent it to a lab for analysis.
Bush was later medically cleared and booked into the Arlington City Jail.
The former Texas Ranger pitcher was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated, one count of accident involving injury, and one count of evading, records show. His bond was set at $35,000.
Bush, a native of San Diego, began his career as a shortstop and was considered one of the top prospects coming out of high school in 2004.
He was drafted No. 1 overall by the San Diego Padres in 2004, becoming the first shortstop drafted first overall from high school since the Seattle Mariners selected Alex Rodriguez in 1993.
Struggling at shortstop, the Padres converted Bush to a right-handed relief pitcher — a position he stuck with for the rest of his major league career.
While in San Diego, Bush had several alcohol-related incidents after he was drafted and moved to the Toronto and Tampa Bay organizations before a March 2012 accident in Charlotte County in Florida.
He was accused of DUI and leaving the scene of an accident that seriously injured a 72-year-old man on a motorcycle.
Bush went to prison after pleading no contest but was released in 2015 after serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence.
Upon his release, the Rangers signed him to a minor league deal in December 2015.
He appeared in 180 games for the Rangers and had a 12-7 record and a 3.34 ERA with the team.
From 2015 to 2022, the Rangers signed and released him four times, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Bush was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in August 2022 and appeared in 37 games over the 2022-23 seasons.
However, the relief pitcher was released by the Brewers in the middle of the 2023 season but re-signed by Texas in July 2023.
Bush never pitched in the big leagues after the Rangers re-signed him, and the organization released him at the end of the season.
