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Atlanta Thrashers All-Star Dany Heatley is expected to face more serious charges following the death of teammate Dan Snyder in a one-car crash.
The hockey world is mourning the death of Snyder, who died late Sunday night, six days after suffering massive brain injuries in the accident in Atlanta's Buckhead section. He was 25.
According to police, Snyder was a passenger in a Ferrari driven by Heatley that struck a pillar while traveling in excess of 80 miles per hour near a condominium complex.
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Heatley was facing four charges in connection with the accident, including a
serious injury by vehicle, a felony. Those charges are scheduled to be upgraded
to include vehicular homicide, which carries a penalty of three to 15 years
in prison. Ticketmaster
Snyder underwent surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital to repair a depressed skull fracture, but never regained consciousness.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dan Snyder," the Thrashers said in a statement. "Dan was a teammate and friend to all of us. We feel a tremendous amount of pain as an organization and extend our deepest sympathies to his family."
There will be a memorial service for Snyder on Friday. Ticketmaster
"We are overwhelmingly saddened and distraught over this tragic loss," the Heatley family said in a statement. "Dan was a genuine and caring individual, and friend to all of us. Our deepest sympathies and compassion go out to his parents and their entire family. All our thoughts are with them during this tragedy. The support we have received from the Snyder family, the Thrashers players and staff, friends and family has been extremely helpful during the difficult time."
Snyder signed with the Thrashers as an undrafted free agent in July 1999. He made his NHL debut during the 2000-01 season. A native of Elmira, Ontario, he spent most of the 2001-02 season in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves but scored his first NHL goal on March 22, 2002 against New York Rangers rookie Dan Blackburn.
Snyder also spent most of last season with Chicago but totaled 10 goals and four assists in 36 contests with Atlanta. He was slated to start this season on injured reserve after undergoing ankle surgery. Ticketmaster
"Dan Snyder was committed to his family, to his profession, to his team and to his community, and the news of his passing fills all of us with an overwhelming sense of sorrow," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
"The NHL extends its deepest sympathies to his parents who have lost a cherished son, to siblings who have lost a loving brothers and to players who have lost a devoted teammate. Our prayers go out to his entire family."
Heatley was transferred Thursday to St. Joseph's Hospital, where tests revealed he suffered torn ligaments and a torn meniscus in his right knee. He also sustained a fractured jaw.
The 22-year-old Heatley is one of the NHL's emerging stars and his likeness appears on the box of a popular hockey video game. He burst on the scene last February when he tied a record with four goals en route to winning most valuable player honors at the All-Star Game.
The former first-round draft pick was ninth in the league in scoring in 2002-03 with 41 goals and 48 assists in 77 games.
Snyder is the second active NHL player to die in four months. New York Rangers center Roman Lyashenko was found dead in a Turkish hotel room in July, the victim of an apparent suicide.