Layana Killed in Car Crash

Former major league relief pitcher Tim Layana died Saturday night after he was ejected from his Chevy Blazer, which was broadsided by another car in Bakersfield, police said.

Layana, 35, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants after playing at Loyola Marymount, died at Kern Medical Center, police said.

Layana and three passengers were on eastbound Highway 178 and were turning left onto Rancheria Road when a Mercedes also heading east was passing slower traffic and broadsided Layana’s Blazer. The Blazer flipped and Layana, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected.

His passengers were treated at the hospital and released, and nobody in the Mercedes was injured.

Layana was living in Culver City and was a baseball coach at a Catholic school in Santa Monica.

The right-hander was 5-5 with a 4.56 ERA and two saves in 78 career relief appearances. His best year was 1990 with the World Series champion Reds when he went 5-3 with a 3.49 ERA and two saves in 55 games.

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