Former MLB Pitcher Octavio Dotel passed away after a nightclub roof collapsed in the Dominican Republic.
Dotel’s death was confirmed by General Juan Manuel Méndez, head of the Emergency Operations Center, to the Dominican newspaper Noticias Sin today (April 8).
The roof at the club Jet Set collapsed early in the morning, causing the deaths of at least 44 people and injuring at least 160 more. Popular singer Rubby Pérez was in the midst of a concert when the tragedy struck.
Dotel was reportedly alive when he was rescued from the rubble, but the 51-year-old former MLB player passed away on his way to the hospital.
Two other former MLB players Henry Blanco and Esteban Germán were also at the Jet Set nightclub that night, but they left before the collapse of the roof, sparing them from danger.
“Our city wakes up to a terrible tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub. My deepest sympathy goes out to the families still waiting for news of their loved ones," wrote Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía de Garrigó tweeted. “Our National District Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee is active and in permanent session. We will continue to make every effort and remain united in prayer.”
Dotel is survived by his wife, Massiel, and their two children, Eduardo and Nicole.
Mendez told Noticias Sin that the search for survivors of the collapse continues. "The important thing is that we're rescuing the people who are alive... we're looking for everyone, Rubby and everyone who was there," Méndez said.
