Dave Edler, former Mariners player and Yakima mayor, injured in crash that killed wife

Former Yakima Mayor Dave Edler, who also played third base for the Seattle Mariners from 1980 to 1983, remains hospitalized after a crash Sunday that killed his wife, Susan, on Sunday.

Susan was pronounced dead at the scene, and Dave was sent to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for two broken arms and facial injuries. The suspected driver, 26-year-old Trevor Stockton, faces vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges involving alleged impairment, The Seattle Times reported.

Stockton appeared in Yakima County Court on Monday. A judge set Stockton’s bail at $75,000. If released on bail, Stockton is ordered to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle he may drive and to enroll in a full-time sobriety program.

Incident details

When authorities responded, they found a Dodge Ram pickup and a Ford Bronco Sport in a ditch along the road near 76th Avenue and Coolidge Road. Edler and his wife were trapped in the Bronco. Fire personnel had to remove the couple from the vehicle.

Accounts differed over which vehicle was in the wrong lane, according to the affidavit obtained by The Seattle Times.

Stockton reportedly refused to perform any voluntary field sobriety tests. A Yakima police drug recognition officer noted Stockton had red, watery eyes and slurred speech.

About six minutes before the crash, Stockton was at a bar with his girlfriend. The bar tab, obtained by authorities, showed he and his girlfriend bought a total of nine drinks. A family member of Stockton’s told officers she saw Stockton drinking alcohol at breakfast earlier that morning.

In court

A Yakima County deputy prosecuting attorney noted in court that when Stockton was informed the couple was seriously injured at the scene, he chuckled in response. Additionally, Stockton repeatedly insulted the drug recognition officer by using a slur for people with mental disabilities.

Prosecutors argued for a significantly higher bail amount at $500,000 due to aggravating factors such as Stockton’s decision to drink throughout the day and for his behavior after the crash. A public defender for Stockton objected to allegations of any alcohol use and requested bail at no higher than $50,000.

Who’s who

In addition to his baseball career in Seattle, Edler served on the Yakima City Council from 2003 to 2006 and later as the city’s mayor from 2006 to 2010. Edler and his wife led the Yakima Foursquare Church for 30 years. Dave Edler also served as a senior pastor and Northwest District supervisor.

Stockton is now on administrative leave from his volunteer firefighter position with the West Valley Fire Department, according to The Seattle Times. Stockton’s only criminal conviction stems from a 2021 Oregon gross misdemeanor eluding case, reduced from felony eluding and first-degree criminal trespass charges.

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