Man accused of killing Nick Adenhart in drunk driving crash fled the scene, witnesses say

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Witnesses testified that Andrew Gallo, who is charged with murdering Angels’ pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others in a drunk driving crash, fled from the accident on foot.

Gallo, 23, talked on his cellphone and then walked away from the accident as one bystander followed him to his car and a security guard shouted at him, witnesses said Tuesday.

Gallo has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree murder in the April 2009 deaths of Adenhart, 22, Courtney Stewart, 20, and Henry Pearson, 25. He has also pleaded not guilty to felony hit-and-run and two counts of driving drunk.

Gallo’s stepbrother, Raymond Rivera, is expected to testify Wednesday as a hostile witness for the prosecution. Rivera previously said that he and Gallo spent hours drinking beer and tequila at three bars the night of the accident.

Gallo’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, according to prosecutors, and he could face a maximum sentence of more than 50 years to life in prison.

Gallo’s attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, acknowledged in her opening statement that Gallo drove while intoxicated, but she argued that he did not intend to kill anyone.

“He did it and he has to live with that for the rest of his life,” Goodman said. “But Andrew Gallo is not a murderer.”

-- Melissa Rohlin

The Associated Press contributed to this report.