Following the release of the National Transportation Safety Board report on former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay’s fatal plane crash, his widow, Brandy, spoke out on Thursday.
“Yesterday’s NTSB report on Roy’s accident was painful for our family, as it has caused us to relive the worst day of our lives. It has reinforced what I have previously stated, that no one is perfect,” she said in a statement released by the Phillies. “Most families struggle in some capacity and ours was no exception. We respectfully ask that you not make assumptions or pass judgment. Rather, we encourage you to hug your loved ones and appreciate having them in your lives. As a family, we ask that you allow Roy to rest in peace.”
Wednesday’s report revealed that Halladay was performing stunts in his Icon A5 plane purchased a month before the Nov. 7, 2017 crash.
The report disclosed that Halladay entered a steep climb as the speed of his aircraft plummeted to 85 mph, causing the plane to nosedive into a lake near his home in Tampa, Florida. Halladay died of blunt force trauma and drowning.
Halladay, who was 40 at the time of his death, had amphetamine levels 10 times the recommended therapeutic levels suggest in his blood. There was also a high level of morphine and anti-depressants present.
The right-hander retired from baseball in 2013 following a 16-year career with the Toronto Blue Jays and Phillies. He spent the final four years of his playing days in Philadelphia.
He posted a 203-105 career record with a 3.38 ERA, 2,117 strikeouts, and two Cy Young Awards.
Less than two years after his death, in 2019, Halladay was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
